Quote:
Originally Posted by Varn
When I studied physics we were taught that Newton stated that something like A=F/m That means that if you have more mass, you will be subject to less acceleration. Something desirable in an accident. I suppose that it would be better from your perspective if you and I had a collision I would not be in a 5000 pound vehicle but walking. Life is not fair that way.
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If you hit something that will stop you (e.g. a large tree), you experience a much greater force if you are in a 5000lb van vs a 2500lb hatch. When you hit something like a deer, the force that they provide on impact is constant, so you will slow less, but the car will experience the same force in the impact.
In a van you only have a foot or two in front of your legs, whereas in a normal car there is about 4' of bonnet. Not to mention the fact that most vans are not required to undergo safety testing (afaik, I'm relying on a quick google search), so it is very likely that a small sedan is actually safer than a large van.
If carrying around lots of stuff is required in your everyday trips, a van is very sensible, but it doesn't make you safer.
By far the best way to not get injured in a crash is not be in a crash at all, which is why systems like ESP are being made mandatory (again, I'm pretty sure this is a car-only requirement, vans don't have to have it).