What Does Your SUV Really Cost You?
Besides ever growing concerns over the price of gas, there may be another reason to avoid buying that new SUV - a possible higher insurance rate. SUVs, though widely considered to be safer to drive than a car, are being studied for the amount of damage they cause in car accidents. SUVs are larger, heavier, and stiffer compared to cars, making them much more dangerous on the road. Studies are starting to show that the safety gained by the vehicle’s driver is coming at a high cost to others. From 1972-1992, vehicle fatalities fell at a steady clip in the United States at nearly a thousand per year, but a funny thing happened in 1992 - the number began to rise. By 2002, the amount of traffic fatalities brought the country’s rate from number one in the world to just ninth now. These figures can be directly related to the introduction of sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, mini-vans, and other light trucks to the mass public. Statistics show that a fatality is 82% more likely in an accident involving a pedestrian and an SUV than in an accident involving a pedestrian and a car, just one of many disturbing facts about the damage an SUV can cause. Another thing to keep in mind, SUVs often cost more to repair than smaller vehicles, which could also raise your car insurance rates. With car insurance companies quickly picking up on these trends and statistics, you can all but count on paying a higher insurance premium for your SUV today.
Are SUVs really Safer to Drive?
One of the most common misconceptions about driving a sports utility vehicle is that the driver will be more protected in an accident. In some cases, this may be true as the SUV’s size and weight can prevent the driver from sustaining major injuries. However, SUVs are at far greater risk than smaller vehicles for rollover accidents. The extra height in SUVS makes them less balanced than smaller cars, making them more likely to flip over if hit. Their less precise handling and suspension also makes them a greater risk for rollovers. Not only do rollover accidents cause an immeasurable amount of damage to the vehicle, they cause far more serious injuries and fatalities than other car accidents. Clearly, SUVs are no safer than smaller vehicles and often more expensive to insure.
Title: What does Your SUV really Cost You?
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