U.S. Report Examines Safety of SUVs, Cars

Mid-size sport utility vehicles are nine times as likely as passenger cars to be involved in fatal rollover crashes and twice as likely to kill the occupants of other vehicles in crashes, a government study says.

The study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration examined fatality data from 1995 to 2000 to determine the effects of vehicle weight. It found large passenger cars and minivans had the lowest fatality rates of all vehicle types. Only vehicles manufactured between 1991 and 1999 were considered.

The study found that the fatality rate for SUVs and passenger cars of similar weight was essentially the same in non-rollover crashes. But death rates rose significantly for SUV occupants in rollover crashes.

In general, NHTSA found vehicles that weighed less were less safe.