Why Reckless Drivers Should Avoid Riding These Cars

Based on the recent crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway, smaller and low-level automobiles are more likely to pose fatal risks to drivers and passengers in the event of collision. Bigger cars fared better, but they are more likely to roll over during collision.

Based on the defects incurred by test dummies from front crashes and side crashes, Forbes magazine came up with its list of Most Dangerous Vehicles of 2010. Vehicles that receive a poor rating are likely to cause severe and fatal trauma to passengers and drivers during collision, whereas a good rating indicates minor or no trauma.

Chevrolet Aveo and Chrysler PT Cruiser are among the worst performers owing to their small size. Both got marginal scores for side and rear crashworthiness and fared below their competitors, so did Cadillac STS and Mercury Grand Marquis.

Below is the list of worst performing cars for each segment. The winning score for all segments is 12, except for micro/mini car category in which the highest scoring model got 11.

Chevrolet Aveo Score: 7 Category: micro/mini car	Chrysler PT Cruiser Score: 6 Category: compact car	Mitsubishi Galant Score: 10 Category: midsize sedan
Mercury Grand Marquis Score: 8 Category:  large sedan	Cadillac STS Score: 8 Category: large luxury sedan	Jeep Wrangler 2-Door Score: 7 Category: Small SUV
Jeep Wrangler 4-Door Score: 8 Category: Midsize Sedan

The Safest Car Size

David Zuby, the institute’s senior vice president for vehicle research, advises small care owners to switch to midsize vehicles for safety reasons, arguing that some have gas mileage similar to smaller cars. A number of midsize vehicles, including crossovers and wagons, fared better than many small cars in the crash tests.

Beware that the worst performing cars in the IIH crash tests are not necessarily substandard. In fact, they meet government safety standards. However, ranking car models based on their crashworthiness will help consumers make the safest choice, giving them a chance to survive what is otherwise a fatal car accident.