Bad accident - walked away

[OVERKILL]

It is interesting that this isn't always true.
https://www.iihs.org/ratings/driver-death-rates-by-make-and-model
The average deathrate for newer 1/2 ton pickups is only a bit better than average of all vehicles?
There are a few midsize and small cars and wagons that are have a much lower deathrate than 1/2 tons, so I guess it shows that in spite of their inherent disadvantages, design and their average driver habits makes more of a difference than mass?

Mid-sized cars show an average death rate of 60 according to your link, the RAM 1500 Classic (previous body style) is 23. Silverado is even lower at 14.

I think what's more interesting is the range. The worst full-sized Pick-up has a death rate of 51 and mid-sized SUV's it's 62, while for mid-sized cars, it's 113.

You are ~7x more likely to die in a KIA Optima (80) than a WK2 Grand Cherokee (12) according to this list.

Though the fact that it stops at 2020, and the tiny sample sizes for some of these vehicles, I think limits the ability to draw those sorts of conclusions honestly and likely is the reason we get really weird variations in the data, like the 2WD Traverse having a death rate of 30, while the 4WD version has a death rate of 6. Or the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD having a death rate of 0, while the 4WD version is 25.

 

[IndyIan]

Mid-sized cars show an average death rate of 60 according to your link, the RAM 1500 Classic (previous body style) is 23. Silverado is even lower at 14.

I think what's more interesting is the range. The worst full-sized Pick-up has a death rate of 51 and mid-sized SUV's it's 62, while for mid-sized cars, it's 113.

You are ~7x more likely to die in a KIA Optima (80) than a WK2 Grand Cherokee (12) according to this list.

Though the fact that it stops at 2020, and the tiny sample sizes for some of these vehicles, I think limits the ability to draw those sorts of conclusions honestly and likely is the reason we get really weird variations in the data, like the 2WD Traverse having a death rate of 30, while the 4WD version has a death rate of 6. Or the Nissan Pathfinder 2WD having a death rate of 0, while the 4WD version is 25.

Yes, some of the smaller samples have pretty big confidence intervals. Also some of the 2wd vs 4wd variances could be suspension tuning related? I think you'd find the more resistant a vehicle is to "fish tailing", the fewer deaths it has?

The small cars tend to be driven by the highest risk drivers as well, and probably the IIHS has some interesting data correcting vehicle safety with driver risk groups(age/location/income), and vice versa.

https://www.iihs.org/media/4d159bba-89bd-4884-92c8-5760f9b58883/gdT6nA/Driver death rates/Driver-deaths_2008-models.pdf
Especially the older trucks, the 3/4 and 1 tons were prone to single vehicle roll overs, but I would think if you were a cautious driver, these should be pretty good. Oddly enough I know a guy who had a late 2000's 4x4 2500 diesel Ram that came pretty close to being upside down in a frozen lake after going through a guardrail and down an embankment... It went partially through the ice on its side, and he had time to get out his side window, but he says it was a close call...

Anyways, I think you could pick the "winners" of whatever vehicle class you want/need, and manage your driving risks, is still a pretty good strategy, than just going for mass.

 

[wavinwayne]

Glad to hear your friend's family is OK. Your post reminds me of the old Subaru commercials, especially the one(s) where they show a mangled former car followed by "They lived".

 

[Leo99]

Those dump trucks/drivers are a menace. They are either empty and the driven way too fast or full of rocks and so slow and in the way and spewing rocks on the cars behind them.

 

[Exhaustgases]

My wife would not be here had she been driving a car instead of my F150. There is a very valid reason to have adequately strong surroundings in your vehicle.

I'm guessing it was not an all aluminum body F150? Glad she is okay.

 

[Oillover]

The small cars tend to be driven by the highest risk drivers as well, and probably the IIHS has some interesting data correcting vehicle safety with driver risk groups(age/location/income), and vice versa.

Considering you drive a Ford Focus, do you consider yourself a "high risk" driver?

 

[SC Maintenance]

Wonder what the story is on the dump having no brakes.

They can loose air brakes. Of course, a lot of drivers will blame their brakes in a crash, so it takes an expert investigator to verify. Since the accident is the trucks fault anyway, plenty of times they simply write the report as "brake failure" and tow away.

I get really nervous around here, as there are lots of dump trucks zooming around between lanes like there a sports car. I know how to drive those trucks, and they do not handle like a sports car. I keep my distance.

 

[nthach]

A straight truck, as in a box truck/dump truck?

I’ve seen a DUI driver crash into a newish Subaru, it was demolished and the DUI car(Infiniti) landed on its roof. I drove by a gnarly-looking crash - a box truck vs. a CR-V. Everyone in the CR-V was able to get out but it looked worse than it seemed. My next car will be a small SUV(Forester/RAV4), there’s too many trucks on the roads and I would feel better with higher crash zones. Regular cars are better for city driving but in the suburbs where trucks and full-size SUVs rule, well…

 

[nthach]

They can loose air brakes. Of course, a lot of drivers will blame their brakes in a crash, so it takes an expert investigator to verify. Since the accident is the trucks fault anyway, plenty of times they simply write the report as "brake failure" and tow away.

I get really nervous around here, as there are lots of dump trucks zooming around between lanes like there a sports car. I know how to drive those trucks, and they do not handle like a sports car. I keep my distance.

In modern cars, the airbag ECM will log brake/throttle events in the moments before a crash so the driver’s word might not back up digital proof. Big rigs and transit/tour/school buses have MDTs on them and they can log events as well - many of them also tie into a CCTV system or can capture braking events with an accelerometer/gyro sensor. Some trucking companies use “smart” cameras(Samsara, DriveCam) that logs acceleration/deceleration and even driver awareness.

I’m leery of box truck/Amazon/FedEx drivers.

 

[SC Maintenance]

In modern cars, the airbag ECM will log brake/throttle events in the moments before a crash so the driver’s word might not back up digital proof. Big rigs and transit/tour/school buses have MDTs on them and they can log events as well - many of them also tie into a CCTV system or can capture braking events with an accelerometer/gyro sensor. Some trucking companies use “smart” cameras(Samsara, DriveCam) that logs acceleration/deceleration and even driver awareness.

I’m leery of box truck/Amazon/FedEx drivers.

Unsure what a MDT is, but the federal law on Event Data Loggers isn't even in affect yet. 2027 model year. Certainly some more professional fleets, etc might have them already - but not required. Your from CA so maybe a state law there?

Even so, most gravel trucks here are very old - so they don't have them, and might not even require them ever because they don't participate in inter state commerce.

I haven't seen the Amazon / UPS / Fed ex drivers around here being any worse than the general public, in fact I have noticed many being quite polite. The gravel trucks are definitely a menace, not to mention their tarps often cover half the load at best.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Wonder what the story is on the dump having no brakes.

Probably a poor PM program?

 

[Chris142]

They can loose air brakes. Of course, a lot of drivers will blame their brakes in a crash, so it takes an expert investigator to verify. Since the accident is the trucks fault anyway, plenty of times they simply write the report as "brake failure" and tow away.

I get really nervous around here, as there are lots of dump trucks zooming around between lanes like there a sports car. I know how to drive those trucks, and they do not handle like a sports car. I keep my distance.

A loss of air makes the brakes come on. Plus it's just a 3 axle dump truck nearly impossible to smoke the shoes to the point of not stopping

 

[SC Maintenance]

A loss of air makes the brakes come on. Plus it's just a 3 axle dump truck nearly impossible to smoke the shoes to the point of not stopping

I said "air brakes" because that is what they are, but I guess I should have simply said brakes in general. "Brake problems were coded for almost 30 percent of the trucks but only 5 percent of the passenger vehicles." https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/re...rt-congress-large-truck-crash-causation-study
Yes, I doubt its compressor failure - that causes a really annoying alarm.

For the fail safe, thats assuming that the spring on the push-rod is fully functional. I don't think even a fully functional one would smoke the brakes on a loaded truck. Maybe when new?

 

[edyvw]

Glad to hear your friend's family is OK. Your post reminds me of the old Subaru commercials, especially the one(s) where they show a mangled former car followed by "They lived".

I call that “marketing from KGB books.”

 

[wavinwayne]

I call that “marketing from KGB books.”

Why?

 

[edyvw]

Why?

Because it appeals to fear. Fear is always easiest saw point. That girl in commercial, beautiful hair, going forward, and dad driving a car, sees her being ejected into the windshield. However, if they drove Subaru, it wouldn’t happen.
Considering brakes in Subaru and tires it puts, I would say, opposite is true.

 

[Dino01]

Stories like this make me want to get into a Volvo SUV or MB SUV.

The euro brick SUVs offer arguably even better safety at a smaller and more manageable size, sure you get to enjoy some funky quirks that come with an aging xc90 or ML350, but you can’t beat em when it comes to safety of all occupants.

The Swedes and Germans are almost maniacal about safety above all else

 

[Bunchgrass]

Those dump trucks/drivers are a menace. They are either empty and the driven way too fast or full of rocks and so slow and in the way and spewing rocks on the cars behind them.

Empty or loaded, gravel seems to fall off the dump trucks. Where I live, they're often moving logging equipment (skidders etc) and farm stuff. The logging stuff has all sort of stuff falling off as they drive --- rocks and mud stuck to tires and undercarriage coming loose. Broken windshields are not uncommon.

 

[Nick1994]

I like driving sedans, but I’m glad I drive a big, newer one.

I’d hate to be in an accident in my 2007 Sonata. My little sister drives it. Fingers crossed nothing happens as I’m not so sure it would do too good.

 

[dogememe]

I loved my Bolt but this is one of the many reasons I upgraded to the Prologue. Big vehicles just feel safer.