About SUV Crashes, Accidents, and Rollovers
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) have become a popular type of vehicle among families. However, drivers must be aware of the dangers that can occur if they are driven carelessly.
Other People Are Reading
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Statistics
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SUV accidents, including rollovers, contributed to over 38 percent of all vehicle crashes in 2005. Of these, over 56 percent of light-truck (including SUV) rollovers resulted in a fatality during that same year.
Speed
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SUV accidents, as with those involving other vehicles, are mostly caused by either speed or inattention to driving. More than 90 percent of the roll-overs happen because a driver has run off the road due to losing control of his vehicle.
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Gravity
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According to "SUV Rollover," sports utility vehicles have a high center of gravity that makes them top-heavy. Thus, they are more apt to rollover when the driver is correcting an erratic maneuver.
Weight
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Though SUVs are known as family vehicles, excessive weight can increase the chances of a rollover. When more weight is added inside the vehicle, it should be evenly distributed so that no one side or area of the SUV carries too much poundage.
Other Causes
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According to Smart Motorist.com there are three other contributing causes to vehicle accidents, including those involving SUVs. The failure of your vehicle's equipment to function properly, the design of the road upon which you are traveling and poor highway or roadway maintenance also contribute to collisions and accidents.
Fatal Collisions
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By using the Ford Explorer as an example of an SUV, PBS.org reports that an SUV is 16 times more likely to kill the occupants of another vehicle in a collision.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit view of the undercarraige of a suv image by Michael Shake from Fotolia.com
