Hybrids - excepting Prius and Insight - 25% Safer than Equivalent Nonhybrids ARLINGTON, VA — Hybrids have a safety edge over their conventional twins when it comes to shielding their occupants from injuries in crashes, new research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, shows. On average, the odds of being injured in a crash are 25 percent lower for people in hybrids than people traveling in nonhybrid models. (Note: Photo added, not part of the HLDI report.) “Weight is a big factor,†says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president and an author of the report. “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than their standard counter- parts. This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins don’t have.†He notes that other factors, such as how, when, and by whom hybrids are driven, also may contribute. Researchers included controls to reduce the impact these differences may have had on the results. Read more: Highway Loss Data Institute
Did you notice that the study excluded both the Prius and the Insight on the ground that they had no non-hybrid twin to serve as a control? Doesn't leave much.........
"17 hybrids and their nonhybrid counterparts", I don't have a list but that is a good chunk of vehicles. I'll make some guesses Honda Civic Honda Civic Hybrid Chevrolet Malibu Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Nissan Altima Nissan Altima Hybrid Saturn Aura Saturn Aura Hybrid Toyota Camry Toyota Camry Hybrid Mercury Milan Mercury Milan Hybrid Lincoln MKZ Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Ford Fusion Ford Fusion Hybrid Hyundai Sonata Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Kia Optima Kia Optima Hybrid Ford Escape Ford Escape Hybrid Mazda Tribute Mazda Tribute Hybrid Mercury Mariner Mercury Mariner Hybrid Toyota Highlander Toyota Highlander Hybrid Chevrolet Silverado (both 2WD and 4WD models) Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid (both 2WD and 4WD models) GMC Sierra GMC Sierra Hybrid Cadillac Escalade Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Chevrolet Tahoe (both 2WD and 4WD models) Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (both 2WD and 4WD models) GMC Yukon 1500 (both 2WD and 4WD models) GMC Yukon 1500 Hybrid (both 2WD and 4WD models) Since I came up with 19, I'll guess that one or two of those are too new for sufficient data and/or one of the older ones didn't have sufficient data.
And the safest hybrid of all is the Chevrolet Volt, according to informedforlife.org. Prius comes in at a strong second place. http://www.informedforlife.org/demos/FCKeditor/UserFiles/File/MasterSCORE2011riskNov12.pdf
I am mightily embarasssed that I missed the fact that both the Prius and Insight were not included in the study. I've edited the title of my OP to reflect their non-inclusion.
Think about it... the Matrix is the non-hybrid Prius. It's true however that these two don't use the same exact platform like the others in the study do.
In the fine print they admit it may just be that hybrid owners are not street racing on the weekend. It might have nothing to do with the car itself.
I meant relative to the total on the road. Notice that they also conclude that hybrids are more dangerous to pedestrians, whereas the numbers for the average hybrid vs the average non hybrid don't suggest that at all. So yes, it DOES matter.
Southern Dad, I knew someone would post that. As a former street racer this was the first thing that came to mind.
Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid would be some of the insufficient data vehicles. 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid - First Drive - Motor Trend
You are not the only one who missed it. The story writers on the local eyewitless 'news' station, where I first heard this story, also missed it. So I didn't learn of that exclusion until it came up in this thread.
This is my thought too. In fact, my guess is the car had the *least* to do with the differences. I'm just glad to see that obsession with gauges is not translating into high statistics
I'm not arguing against any point you made, I just thought it'd be interesting to try and guess the 17 vehicles.
Fair enough.......... I was a bit bugged by the article's bringing up the pedestrian thing since all that recent noise (intended) about the deadly silent Prius, that's all.
