Improvements implemented by automakers have made a difference in saving lives when accidents occur. Drivers in most vehicles are close to 50 percent less likely to lose their lives in front crashes compared to 25 years ago. In the mid-nineties, most vehicles earned poor to marginal ratings, particularly when it came to passengers in rear seats.
Falling short
Yet, despite these advancements in crash test technology, passengers in the back seat remain at risk of severe and potentially fatal injuries. The deadly disparity and ever-growing gap could take lives. Data reveals that only two (Ford Escape and Volvo XC40) out of 15 smaller SUVs received a ranking of good in the category of rear occupant safety.
Nine rated poor, with measurements revealing significant risks of head, neck, and chest injuries suffered by backseat passengers. Additionally, the seat belt exerted force considered excessive, with some seeing the dummy coming perilously close to making contact with the front seatback.
Troubling data
Original reviews saw all 15 vehicles generating good ratings in the initial evaluation, particularly in effectively restraining a driver’s head from coming in contact with hard surfaces in the car. Additional measurements told a different story. Most of those transports do not provide adequate protection to the most vulnerable part of the body: Heads and necks.
Front seat drivers and passengers have the luxury of crash tensioners tightening the seat belt at the start of a crash, allowing the occupant’s body to slow along with the vehicle. Force limiters reduce the risk of injuries to the chest. However, rear-seat drivers do not have that same level of protection. Suggestions for solutions include rear seat airbags and inflatable seat belts.
When cutting-edge technology fails to prevent serious injuries, the lives of all passengers are at stake. Car accidents involving the slightest defect or shortcoming can carry life-changing consequences.