SUV Rollovers

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Automobiles )



SUV rollovers happen when your SUV stumble on the road from its normal upright position. It happens daily across the United States, and in fact is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Many of these tragedies have the vehicle end up with the roof being against the concrete road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claims your SUV has a higher propensity to rollover than any other vehicle type, and accounts for almost 20% of deaths in vehicular accidents. Out of the estimated 11,000 Americans killed annually on automobile accidents, 2,000 are killed specifically in SUV rollovers. A SUV rollover is 2-3 times more likely to occur than for any other average passenger car.

The SUV is the most popular and highest selling vehicle in the United States. In fact, the SUV is the vehicle that America loves. 1 out of 4 vehicles in the US sold yearly is a SUV. You can use it almost anywhere, anytime; for rugged work, either on highways or off-road tracks, for carrying children to school, for family vacations, for transporting bulky things, for farming, for hunting and fishing, for any type of weather, or for any occasion thereafter. You perceive the SUV as a safe vehicle simply because car companies tell you to do so. For the past 30 years, auto companies have marketed the SUV as a safe vehicle as it is big and sturdy. In your mind, big and sturdy is equivalent to safety. Moreover, when driving, you feel that safeness through the luxurious interiors apart from the fact that when you look outside, you are bigger than any car on the road, so you feel safer.

Ironically, sport utility vehicles have many characteristics which make it susceptible to rollover. Your SUV is higher off the ground (due to higher suspension) than any other vehicle on the road, and this gives it a high center of gravity. It also has a top heavy design and a narrow wheel base not proportioned to its height. A SUV rollover most likely happens when you are forced to swerve quickly, turn at highway speed, when there is a tire blowout, and in certain cases of car collisions. Adding up to those are inadequate safety measures like roll bars, sturdy seatbelts, side and curtain airbags, and most importantly, a durable roof that could support the vehicles weight when upside down.

To avoid SUV rollovers, you should: drive responsibly, avoid panicky steering especially at high speeds, maintain tires to avoid wear-off, and load things appropriately keeping in mind the proper weight (heavier load makes it more vulnerable to rollover).

Sport Utility Vehicles will continue to be loved by America. In fact, more and more are being sold each year. Just make sure that when you buy your SUV, it has a lower height as much as possible, and a narrow wheel base. With careful driving and proper vehicle design, SUV rollovers may be avoided in the future.


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