Quote:
Originally Posted by IamIan
#1> Someone is always bigger/heavier than you.
#2> The bigger / heavier vehicle is more dangerous to everyone else around
#3> There are other types of accidents than head on car vs car.
Any accident involving hitting a stationary object the heavier car is less safe than the lighter car. It brings more energy into the collision. The human body has the same injury from force tolerances no matter the vehicle. This forces the heavier vehicle to be less safe than the light vehicle....
#4> The heavier vehicle is more likely to get in an accident in the first place.
It's inertia ... the heavier vehicle's greater inertia reducing it's ability to brake to a stop or turn a tight corner to get out of the way...
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I agree with you on #1 and 2.
Your #3 argument seems to make sense until it contradicts itself. More energy in the car or in the passenger? Energy in the car relates back to #2; it doesn't relate to the passengers. Energy in the passengers is primarily managed in a collision. Unless you are talking about a side impact with a disproportionately massive but weak car or a truck carrying a trailer which will move forward and crush the driver.
I disagree with your #4. Greater inertia yes, more difficult to accelerate yes. What about proportionately more frictional force between the ground and tires? This cancels out any effect of greater inertia in the end. You can double a car's mass and expect it to stop in the same distance if all else is held constant (especially center of gravity).
A LARGER car is more safe in all accidents, especially one that's designed to crumple and absorb energy over a greater distance. Mass is only relevant in the "my car is bigger" argument, which yes, there is always someone bigger.