Smart ForTwo earns high-ratings in IIHS crash tests

The new Smart has proven itself safe. Daimler’s new Smart ForTwo won top ratings for front and side impact tests from the  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However it did get lower ratings in rear crashes.

“The big question from consumers is, ‘How safe is it?'” said Adrian Lund, the institute’s president. “Among the smallest cars, the engineers of the Smart did their homework and designed a high level of safety into a very small package.”

One major problem that occurred after the side-impact test by the IIHS, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The Smart ForTwo’s driver-side door unlatched during each crash test. The hurt the rating of the Smart’s structural rating from good to acceptable. However, the IIHS did point out that the opening did not effect dummy movement during the tests.

“Still, doors shouldn’t unlatch because in some crashes it could allow partial or complete occupant ejection” especially if they were not wearing safety belts, the Insurance Institute said.

IIHS pointed out that small and lighter cars like the Smart are generally less safe accounting for 106 driver deaths per million registered vehicles, compared with 69 driver deaths in larger cars.

When it comes to safety, “all things being equal, bigger and heavier is always better,” Lund said.

Source: Detroit News