Personal Injury Blog

IIHS Finds Two Minivans Do Not Provide Adequate Rollover Protection System

November 11th, 2011
rollover protection system

Rollover protection is one of the paramount factors that parents should keep in mind

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has certified five minivans as being safe, but has found that two minivan models do not offer adequate rollover protection system.

The Insurance Institute has rated the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country, the Dodge Grand Caravan, the Volkswagen Routan, the Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna as Top Safety Picks.  The rankings rate minivans based on protection during a rollover accident.  To qualify as a Top Safety Pick, the minivan should have the highest rating for frontal, side, rollover and rear crash protection.  The minivan should also have electronic stability control to minimize the risks of a rollover.

However, the Insurance Institute found that two Minivan Models, the Kia Sedona and the Nissan Quest lacked adequate rollover protection.  The Nissan Quest was ranked as “acceptable.”  The Kia Sedona was ranked as having “poor” rollover protection.

According to the Insurance Industry for Highway Safety, parents and families who are looking for minivans will find a number of vehicles that meet their needs and keep them safe.  However, rollover protection is one of the paramount factors that parents should keep in mind when purchasing a minivan.  These vehicles are more susceptible to rollovers than sedans.  Minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks have a much higher center of gravity.  This places these vehicles at a much higher risk of flipping over at high speeds if the driver applies the brakes suddenly.

Rollover protection includes solid roof strength that can protect the roof from crashes and collapses during rollover.  A minivan a good rollover protection and good roof strength must have a strength-to-weight ratio of at least four.  The Chrysler Town and Country was found to have a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.51.  When a vehicle flips over, the roof can collapse, severely injuring occupants inside.  When a vehicle has a strong roof, the impact of the rollover on the roof is minimal, and this reduces the chance that passengers and motorists will be severely injured.  Additionally, stronger roofs can also prevent ejections.

For a minivan to be safe, it must come equipped with electronic stability control.  These systems are available on more and more minivans, SUVs and pickup trucks.  Los Angeles car accident  lawyers would recommend only buying SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans that come with stability control systems.  These systems are designed to detect when a vehicle is in danger of overturning, and can automatically apply power to control the vehicle.  Electronic stability control systems have contributed to declining fatality rates in rollover accidents across the country.

 

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