Trading Gas Mileage for Safety?

John Hopkins

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Americans who are trading in their gas hogs for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles may well be trading in the safety provided by many of those larger vehicles as well. According to a recently-released study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "[o]nly the Versa earned the top rating of "Good" for front- and side-impact protection as well as for whiplash protection in rear impacts." The study highlights not only the safety concerns in the front seat, but for rear seat passengers as well in these smaller, high-sales vehicles.

One must hope that automotive manufacturers are putting their best "foot forward" in the design of more fuel efficient vehicles. Given reports that a number of SUV's have been manufactured with less than adequate roll-over protection; as automotive manufacturers had better, safer designs sitting on their shelves. We must hope that they are not simply trying to attract consumers by producing fuel efficient vehicles, while sacrificing safety considerations as some have done in the past.