How safe is the new Smart Fortwo?

Question

I saw a video the otherday of a Smart car crashing into a 35 mpg offsetbarrier and it look like a disastor! There was no way anyone would survive that crash next to a Hummer or a Toyota Camry even! My question is then what is the minimum safety rating in America to allow such a vehicle on the road? Is it very low? I have also been doiing research on the subject because our office is looking to buy a few for local transportation and I do not want to drive such a vehcile. On the internet is loads of stories about people flipping this thing over just from hitting a curb! Also I saw a picture where a person was cut in half when they crashed into a semi-trailer! Scary stuff. How is this thing allowed here?

Answer 1

Answered your own question with that video didn't ya?

Come on use some common sense.  What do you think would happen if you ran that car into a full size truck, or even a full size car?  The people in that Smart car will be seriously injured, if not killed.  

And running into a semi truck who the h**l did you expect to win that one?

Thanks I'll drive my Jeep and my full size truck.  

The same thing is true for compact cars, they're just not made like they used to be.  You get in a wreck now, no matter what you drive and the vehicle(s) are/will suffer severe damage, and in a lot of cases are being "TOTALED" by insurance companies because of the damage.

You can thank the Democrates for signing the NAFTA bill for allowing c**p like that in the US.  Same thing with all that other China c**p that's coming over here.  So thank your Government for opening the US up to substandard equipment, cars, toys, etc.  

Watch out because it won't be long until they'll be recalling your car for lead paint.  From China.

Answer 2

All that I can say is that it is still considered a coffin on wheels and the only thing you will really save is the price of a coffin.

Answer 3

According to the smartusa.com faq:  

http://www.smartusa.com/smart-car-faq.as...

"The safety management system of the smart fortwo will set new standards in its class, and is designed to achieve a 4-star crash rating in the USA."

The entire body of the car is basically one big steel roll cage, designed to redistribute crash forces around the passenger compartment.

The car comes standard with ABS, another system called ESP, which applies crash avoidance measures to the controls when extreme manuvers are detected, and both front and side airbags.

(This thing is some sort of small mercedez benz btw, it's not exactly half engineered)

As far as flipping over is concerned, if you're comfortable riding around in SUVs, which are notoriously easy to flip over, even during quick lane changes for example, I don't see you having any problem with this thing.

As far as getting run over by a semi, same thing.  Around here we get semis killing off whole families in SUVs.  If you plan on getting into a accident with one of those things, just go ahead and drive an M1 tank.

On the whole, I don't get this concern so many people suddenly have with safety when confronted with a car like this.  

I watch people in oversized cars doing twenty miles over the speed limit all day long, most of them not wearing seat belts, tailgating, passing on the right, cutting back and forth in traffic with very little notice or clearance, you name it.

God knows how many innocent people they get killed that way, whether they live through the experience themselves or not.  

Frankly, I think it'd be great if people who cause accidents while driving huge cars ("for safety") were sentenced to drive in geo metros for awhile.  I think their driving habits would improve a lot, real fast.  

If you want safe, don't drive like an idiot.

Answer 4

You will be cut in half if you crash into a semi-trailer no matter what vehicle you're driving.

The Smart Fortwo rates 4 stars...the same as a VW Jetta or C class Mercedes.  It has a super-strong frame that protects the passengers like a race-car safety cage.  It also has side airbags and reinforced doors.

The car also has the engine in the back, making it safer.  Cars with their engine in the front have the problem of the engine entering the passenger compartment during a collision.  

Have you ever sat in a fortwo?  They're bigger in person than they look in pictures.  And sitting behind the wheel, you quickly forget that you're driving such a short car.