Small cars and mini SUVs, on the other hand, are used primarily by younger, less experienced driverswho tend to have more accidents that involve death or injury. While the information gathered by the insurance industry can be helpful, it may not directly relate to current models or how a vehicle will be driven by your family. While the number of annual fatalities in passenger cars has dropped by 4000 in the last 10 years, the number of deaths in light trucks has climbed more than 2000. Trucks historically have had fewer safety requirements than cars, but for the 1999 model year, federal regulations require light trucks to meet the same major safety requirements as cars, including having dual front air bags and identical side impact standards. The main vehicles exempt are heavy-duty pickups and vans with gross vehicle weights of more than 8500 pounds.
Many drivers feel safer in a truck than in a car.
They argue that trucks and vans weigh more than most cars, and weight provides more protection in a collision. You also sit higher in a truck or a van, so you can see trouble coming. This adds to a sense of security, and it is one of the key reasons women cite for buying sport-utility vehicles. Personal injury claims are traditionally higher for small pickups and mini SUVs than other types of vehicles. A small pickups cargo bed is extremely light when empty, increasing chances the rear brakes will lock prematurely in a panic stop.