Are 4WD's Safer ?
by Mark Peacock

Nearly all 4WD owners will cite safety as one of their reasons for buying a 4WD. Because they are usually bigger than most cars, they are perceived by the general public as being safer. But is this true?

If you look at the Crash BarrierTests statistics from the NRMA you will find that 4WDrives in general rate poorly compared to cars. Based on the Crash Barrier Test results, it would be safer to buy a Holden Commodore than a Holden Jackaroo. 

However what these statistics don’t tell you is that the Commodore has been shown to be safer when crashed into a solid block of concrete head on at 50 odd kilometres an hour. The Commodore, with its crumple zones and other safety features, will deform in a controlled manner. The Jackaroo will also deform but, with its greater weight, the vehicle has to absorb significantly more energy, as the concrete block will not budge.

If you know you are going to be crashing into concrete blocks then buy the Commodore every time as its definitely safer.

In the real world, you are statistically more likely to be involved in a partial offset head-on collision. What partial offset means is the two vehicles hitting nearly head-on, generally on the drivers side for both vehicles.

Now if you had to choose between the Commodore and the Jackaroo (both airbag equipped for the sake of this argument) which vehicle would you rather be in? I personally would choose the Jackaroo as it’s significantly heavier and higher than the Commodore and would tend to push the Commodore back the way it came from.

To take this argument one step further, swap the Jackaroo for a large truck. Which vehicle would you rather be in now when hitting the Commodore? I bet everyone would choose the truck over the Commodore.

The main reason for this is that the truck is bigger, which leads to the obvious conclusion that big is better as far as safety goes! Right, well not quite.

To add some facts to this argument, the Monash University’s Accident Research Centre has analysed 431,000 real life crashes that occurred in 1997. They have compiled a rating that corresponds to the percentage chance of receiving a serious injury if involved in a crash.

The Jackaroo rated at 1.10 while the VR/VS model Commodore rated at 1.83. This demonstrates that in a real life situation, the Jackeroo is safer. In fact all late model heavyweight 4WD’s rate better (1.48 average) than a VR/VS model Commodore.

However, if you look at the statistics for lightweight 4WD’s and older 4WD’s then the tables begin to turn. They start to average from 2.21 to 3.43. What this indicates is that the lighter the 4WD the higher the injury chance and the older the 4WD the higher the injury chance.

Both these indications make common sense, as late model 4WD designs incorporate more safety features and the lighter weight of the small 4WD’s go against them in a real life crash.

In my hypothetical head-on crash, I would just about always rather be in the heavier (if all other factors are even ie. both airbag-equipped etc). But if I was in a rollover with no other vehicle involved then I would rather be in the lighter Commodore, and the last vehicle I would want to be in would be a fully loaded truck.

What I’m getting at is that no one type of vehicle is safer than another in all situations.

Another very important aspect of safety that is often overlooked is avoiding the accident in the first place. 4WDrives do not handle as well or stop as quick as the average car, but they do generally have better vision due to their raised seating position.

In many situations a car may be able to avoid an accident due to its superior turning and stopping ability. If you try and turn sharply while braking heavily in a 4WD you are likely to roll over and hit what you were trying to avoid. A passenger car can turn more sharply than a 4WD before rolling over as it has a lower centre of gravity.

Some people may try and argue that a 4WD handles just as well as a car, but if this is true why don’t you see 4WDrives racing on road circuits? They do race you say, vehicles like the Nissan GTR, Audi Quatro and Laser TX3 4WD. These vehicles are normal road-going cars with 4WD added for extra traction. They are not designed to go off road like your average Jackaroo, Landcruiser or Patrol and so do not have a high centre of gravity or long travel suspension.

In most situations, your typical car will outhandle your typical 4WD and so may avoid an accident or reduce the severity of impact. But a 4WD may see a potential accident situation earlier due to its higher seating.

However given the average persons driving ability, how much of a difference will it make either way? At best it may minimise any damage to your vehicle, but will it make the difference between life and death? The short and long of it all is "I don’t know".

If all this has you more confused about the safety aspect of 4WDrives, then don’t fret. It's my intent  to dispel the myth that 4WDrives are safer in all conditions. Although the average person perceives a 4WD to be safer in all circumstances, they are not.

But where does this leave you and your 4WDrive as far as safety is concerned. It is my opinion (not proven fact) that in most circumstances you are better off in a large late model 4WDrive for city driving. When in the country I believe you are actually safer in a conventional vehicle for high speed country driving.

However in specific circumstances you would be better off in the other type of vehicle, but without the benefit of foresight you have to make a choice of vehicle. Unfortunately in this case you cannot have your cake and eat it to.

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 These pages were last updated on 28 May 2004.
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