Bumper And Height Disparity: How It Costs Drivers
Bumper And Height Disparity: How It Costs Drivers
Think back to the last time you maneuvered a bumper car. Chances are, all of the cars looked identical and stood at the same height. When you collided with another driver, the rubber tubing that surrounded your vehicle bounced against tubing surrounding the other car. As a result, the rubber bore the brunt of the impact. From a safety perspective, the homogeneity of the vehicles was good; it ensured the bumpers would be at the same height, would absorb the collision impact, and protect the drivers.
That same homogeneity has been sacrificed on our roads and highways. As sales of SUVs, trucks, and other large automobiles surged over the last 15 years, a disparity in height has grown. Below, we’ll explore the effects of this disparity in the context of collision damage and auto repair bills.
The False Perception Of Safety
There was a time when cars were equipped with sturdy bumpers. They prevented severe structural damage during front and rear accidents; they also protected motorists by absorbing the majority of collision impact. When government regulations began to focus on higher fuel efficiency, automakers responded by designing lighter alternatives. The less they weighed, the more easily carmakers could meet fuel efficiency requirements.
Of course, that led to less-sturdy material being used, which in turn, led to lower safety standards. Making matters worse, SUVs and large vehicles are not required to carry bumpers at all. When they do carry them, they’re usually installed purely for aesthetic reasons.
Low-Speed Collisions Are Still Expensive
A common fallacy among drivers is that low-speed collisions rarely result in serious structural damage to the vehicles involved. In truth, they can and often do result in expensive damage. Comprehensive tests conducted by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIFHS) have found accidents involving SUVs and sedans can cause major damage to both vehicles at speeds under 10 miles per hour.
The reason is due to two factors: the lack of a bumper (as in the case of many SUVs) and the disparity in their height when they are present. Indeed, in some accidents, they never make contact with each other.
The Financial Impact To Motorists
One of the challenges for motorists is that low-speed accidents can result in hefty repair bills that fall beneath their auto insurance deductible. It is not uncommon for a low-speed collision between a sedan and SUV to result in thousands of dollars in structural damage. In some cases, it can render both vehicles inoperable. The problem is that in order to reduce auto insurance premiums, many drivers opt for a high deductible. As a result, they are forced to pay for repairs that bumpers were originally designed to help prevent.
One day, we may see a return to a fleet of vehicles that are relatively homogeneous in height. Until then, there is little that drivers can do other than remaining cautious behind the wheel.
