With a Struggling Automotive Industry, How do US Cars Shape Up in ...

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For many years, most carmakers and automotive experts alike agreed that Asian and European-made vehicles were safer overall than American vehicles. American vehicles, while large, lacked many of the safety features commonly found in Asian or European cars. However, times have changed and many vehicles are manufactured not only for sale and use all over the world, but also manufactured in locations all over the world. Many European and Asian cars are manufactured in the United States, and many American vehicles use parts from Asia and Europe. This has blurred the distinctive lines between car makers, and now, it is harder to determine the safest vehicles.

Luckily, the NCAP in Europe and the NHTSA and IIHS in the United States have strict safety guidelines and tests that they perform on vehicles to ensure the maximum safety of passengers and drivers on the road. While all vehicles must pass the inspection by these companies, there are a few car brands that continually produce the safest vehicles with five star safety ratings in many important categories. When choosing a vehicle for purchase, always try to purchase a vehicle with the highest safety standards possible to remain safe while on the road.

Safety ratings

The NCAP, NHTSA, and IIHS all have a rating system based on the five star system or on a word-based rating system, using words like ?marginal,? ?good,? ?poor,? or ?exceptional.? Vehicles with higher ratings have preformed better in crash tests and will likely perform better in real life crash situations. Car makers often use the safety data provided by these organizations to market their vehicles. Safer vehicles are often sold more often as ?family? vehicles.

Safety tests

The tests that the safety organizations run on the vehicles varies by country, but many of the test are the same. All tests include a rollover test, front impact test, side impact test, rear crash tests and seatbelt tests. The ratings given by the organization indicate the performance of the vehicle in that test. When searching for a car, it is advisable to look for models that perform the highest in as many safety tests as possible.

Safest vehicles

As of 2011, the NCAP in the UK has issued high safety ratings to a variety of vehicles from all over the world. The safest vehicles included models from Audi, Ford, Isuzu, Kia,
Renault, and Volvo. Most of the vehicles on this list are of European make, but two Asian-made vehicles and one American-made vehicle made the list. These car brands all had vehicles with four or five-star safety ratings and performance scores between 67% and 98% for all passengers.

Legal ramifications for crashes

If you are in a car crash, and receive medical symptoms or problems associated with the crash, such as whiplash, it may be possible to receive compensation from your insurance company or even the car manufacturer itself. The compensation for whiplash and other related crash problems can vary, but is designed to help you receive the payment you deserve for your pain and suffering.

As you can see, the vehicles of today are not the vehicles of yesteryear. The lines between what vehicle brands are ?good? and which are ?bad? are vastly different today than in the past. In general, more European-made vehicles remain at the top of the NCAP safety ratings, but they are by no means the only safe vehicles on the road. No matter the brand, you can find a safe vehicle to drive anywhere in the world that will keep you and any passengers safe, even in a dangerous crash.

This is a guest post by Liz Conaty. ?Liz is very interested in the Auto industry, especially in legal issues such as?Compensation for Whiplash.

Source: http://www.moderndignity.com/with-a-struggling-automotive-industry-how-do-us-cars-shape-up-in-terms-of-safety/

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