1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Hybrids 25% Safer than Equivalent Nonhybrids

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Rokeby, Nov 19, 2011.

  1. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Hybrids - excepting Prius and Insight - 25% Safer than Equivalent Nonhybrids

    ARLINGTON, VA — Hybrids have a safety edge over their
    conventional twins when it comes to shielding their occupants from
    injuries in crashes, new research by the Highway Loss Data Institute
    (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,
    shows. On average, the odds of being injured in a crash are 25 percent
    lower for people in hybrids than people traveling in nonhybrid models.

    [​IMG]
    (Note: Photo added, not part of the HLDI report.)

    “Weight is a big factor,†says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president and an
    author of the report. “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavier than
    their standard counter- parts. This extra mass gives them an advantage
    in crashes that their conventional twins don’t have.†He notes that other
    factors, such as how, when, and by whom hybrids are driven, also may
    contribute. Researchers included controls to reduce the impact these
    differences may have had on the results.

    Read more: Highway Loss Data Institute
     
    #1 Rokeby, Nov 19, 2011
    4 people like this.
  2. dabize

    dabize New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    98
    12
    0
    Location:
    Sudbury, MA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Did you notice that the study excluded both the Prius and the Insight on the ground that they had no non-hybrid twin to serve as a control?

    Doesn't leave much.........
     
    #2 dabize, Nov 19, 2011
  3. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    851
    188
    0
    Location:
    TN, USA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    "17 hybrids and their nonhybrid counterparts", I don't have a list but that is a good chunk of vehicles.

    I'll make some guesses

    Honda Civic
    Honda Civic Hybrid

    Chevrolet Malibu
    Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

    Nissan Altima
    Nissan Altima Hybrid

    Saturn Aura
    Saturn Aura Hybrid

    Toyota Camry
    Toyota Camry Hybrid

    Mercury Milan
    Mercury Milan Hybrid

    Lincoln MKZ
    Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

    Ford Fusion
    Ford Fusion Hybrid

    Hyundai Sonata
    Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

    Kia Optima
    Kia Optima Hybrid

    Ford Escape
    Ford Escape Hybrid

    Mazda Tribute
    Mazda Tribute Hybrid

    Mercury Mariner
    Mercury Mariner Hybrid

    Toyota Highlander
    Toyota Highlander Hybrid

    Chevrolet Silverado (both 2WD and 4WD models)
    Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid (both 2WD and 4WD models)

    GMC Sierra
    GMC Sierra Hybrid

    Cadillac Escalade
    Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

    Chevrolet Tahoe (both 2WD and 4WD models)
    Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (both 2WD and 4WD models)

    GMC Yukon 1500 (both 2WD and 4WD models)
    GMC Yukon 1500 Hybrid (both 2WD and 4WD models)

    Since I came up with 19, I'll guess that one or two of those are too new for sufficient data and/or one of the older ones didn't have sufficient data.
     
    #3 dhanson865, Nov 19, 2011
  4. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2010
    2,382
    1,304
    0
    Location:
    California, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Chevy Volt
    #4 Jeff N, Nov 19, 2011
  5. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    :mad: I am mightily embarasssed that I missed the fact that both
    the Prius and Insight were not included in the study.

    I've edited the title of my OP to reflect their non-inclusion. :mad:
     
    #5 Rokeby, Nov 19, 2011
  6. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2011
    350
    212
    58
    Location:
    Monroe, GA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I feel so excluded... Both of my daily drivers are excluded.
     
    #6 Southern Dad, Nov 19, 2011
  7. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2005
    2,010
    353
    0
    Location:
    Outer Banks of NC.. Retired to play golf and poker
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    Think about it... the Matrix is the non-hybrid Prius. It's true however that these two don't use the same exact platform like the others in the study do.
     
    #7 DeadPhish, Nov 19, 2011
  8. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    In the fine print they admit it may just be that hybrid owners are not street racing on the weekend. It might have nothing to do with the car itself.
     
    #8 JimboPalmer, Nov 19, 2011
  9. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2011
    350
    212
    58
    Location:
    Monroe, GA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I had to do it... Someone was going to do it... I had to do it.
     
    #9 Southern Dad, Nov 19, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  10. dabize

    dabize New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    98
    12
    0
    Location:
    Sudbury, MA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A

    I meant relative to the total on the road.

    Notice that they also conclude that hybrids are more dangerous to pedestrians, whereas the numbers for the average hybrid vs the average non hybrid don't suggest that at all.

    So yes, it DOES matter.
     
    #10 dabize, Nov 19, 2011
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Southern Dad, I knew someone would post that. :)

    As a former street racer this was the first thing that came to mind.
     
    #11 F8L, Nov 19, 2011
  12. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and Dodge Durango Hybrid would be some of the insufficient data vehicles.

    2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and 2009 Dodge Durango Hybrid - First Drive - Motor Trend
     
    #12 JimboPalmer, Nov 19, 2011
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,317
    10,167
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You are not the only one who missed it. The story writers on the local eyewitless 'news' station, where I first heard this story, also missed it. So I didn't learn of that exclusion until it came up in this thread.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Nov 19, 2011
  14. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,530
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    This is my thought too. In fact, my guess is the car had the *least* to do with the differences.

    I'm just glad to see that obsession with gauges is not translating into high statistics ;)
     
    #14 SageBrush, Nov 20, 2011
  15. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    851
    188
    0
    Location:
    TN, USA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I'm not arguing against any point you made, I just thought it'd be interesting to try and guess the 17 vehicles.
     
    #15 dhanson865, Nov 20, 2011
  16. dabize

    dabize New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2010
    98
    12
    0
    Location:
    Sudbury, MA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Fair enough..........

    I was a bit bugged by the article's bringing up the pedestrian thing since all that recent noise (intended) about the deadly silent Prius, that's all.
     
    #16 dabize, Nov 20, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)