Report Says Owners, Drivers Mistaken in Thinking SUVs Safer than Smaller Vehicles

Reuters reported Aug. 30 that researchers at the University of Michigan and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have found that SUVs could be the most dangerous cars on the road for all drivers. The risk analysis also concluded that many SUV owners travel at increased speeds, under the mistaken impression that their vehicles make them safer than motorists driving smaller cars. Reuters said the study, which the Berkeley laboratory publicized this week, comes as more and more SUVs fill US roads, and adds to the debate over whether making vehicles smaller and more fuel-efficient puts drivers at higher risk. Reuters said the analysis was recently presented to lawmakers in Washington and compared the risk of death in traffic accidents based on vehicle types and models sold between 1995-1999 using data on traffic deaths published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.