Small car safety improves in newest crash testing results

December 17, 9:19 AMGreen Car ExaminerEvelyn Kanter

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It's good news for those of us driving anything small enough to fit inside a Hummer's glovebox.  The safety of small cars is improving -- better, but still room to improve even more

That's according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which reports that most new small cars now earn good ratings in frontal crash tests but not as good for side and rear crashes.  At least according to just completed  front, side, and rear tests of seven 2009 model small cars:

Chevrolet HHR, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Saturn Astra, Suzuki SX4, and Toyota Matrix.  

All earn the highest ratings for protecting occupants in frontal crashes.    But -- only the SX4 and Matrix and its twin Pontiac Vibe also earn good ratings for protection in side crashes. Among seat/head restraints evaluated, only those in the Focus passed the IIHS test for protection in rear impacts. The Mini Cooper also rates well for front and rear crashworthiness -- but not for side protection. 

Institute senior vice president Joe Nolan credits the auto-makers for adding "stronger structures and standard head-protecting side airbags to help in side crashes, which are tougher on smaller, lighter cars."  The round of tests of 2009 models is a great improvement over the safety of small cars a few years ago.  In 2003, only three of 19 models passed the test., and most were rated poor.  That's no longer the case today.  Simply, the newest small cars are safer than ever, and that's partly because side airbags are now standard in most small cars.  As recently as 2006, it was an option that not a lot of buyers opted to add to the purchase price. 

The Institute's side test is especially challenging for small cars because the barrier that strikes the test vehicle represents the front end of a pickup truck or SUV. Side airbags designed for head protection are crucial because the barrier crashes into the side of the car right at the head level of the two dummies that are positioned in the driver seat and in the rear seat behind the driver.  That's where the side airbags come in.

The Chrysler PT Cruiser is the only model in this test group to flunk the test in both side and rear evaluations -- and for both front seat and rear seat occupants.  Not good news -- for owners or for the financially-strapped Detroit auto-maker.   Who will buy a PT Cruiser after this?  Even a used one?

In the side test, measures recorded on the driver dummy indicate that in a real-world crash of similar severity, rib fractures and internal organ injuries would be likely, along with a possible pelvic fracture. The rear passenger dummy's head contacted the C-pillar during the test because this car doesn't have rear-seat side airbags. That would result in likely   serious neck injuries and a fractured pelvis in a similarly severe crash. The seat/head restraint combinations in the Chevrolet HHR and Suzuki SX4 earn the next lowest rating of marginal. Looking at the larger group of 21 current small car models the Institute has rated, the PT Cruiser still has the worst seat/head restraint rating.

The IIHS also wags a naughty-naughty finger at  automakers.  Nolan says they have not paid as much attention to protection in rear-end crashes, compared with front and side.  Good seat/head restraints are key to preventing whiplash injuries, especially since neck sprain or strain is the most frequently reported crash injury in US insurance claims.  In stop and go commuter traffic, you're more likely to get in a rear-end collision than in any other kind of crash, he says.

When a vehicle is rear-ended and bumped forward, the laws of physics throw occupants forward, too.  Without support, the head lags behind the rest of the body, causing the neck to bend and stretch -- otherside known as whiplash.  The trick is to keep the head and torso moving together -- which is the real purpose of head restraints.  Nolan cites the redesigned 2009 Toyota Corolla as an example of incorporating active head restraints to help guard against whiplash injuries.  Active head restraints are designed to move closer to the backs of occupants' heads in rear-end crashes.

Photo courtesy Insurance Institute for Highway Safety