What is the safest place to sit in a 4-5 seater car and a 7-seater vehicle?
Studies from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have identified the safest positions to sit in a car.
Sedan (4-5 seats)
Sedans are cars with 4-5 seats, a low ground clearance of around 200mm, and a closed roof design integrated with the body. According to experts, due to the typical design of sedans, the most dangerous position is next to the driver, in the front seat.
Because when an incident occurs head-on, drivers often instinctively steer in a direction that protects them.
That's also why the front seat is more heavily impacted. On the other hand, in a head-on collision, front-seat occupants are more likely to hit their heads and chests against the dashboard or windshield if the seatbelts and airbags don't deploy effectively. Rear-seat occupants, being further away, will experience less inertial impact.
The safest position in a sedan is usually the back seat. For a four-seater sedan, the safest position is the seat behind the driver's seat. For a five-seater sedan, the safest positions are the seat behind the driver's seat and the two seats in the middle next to it.
Hatchback cars (4-5 seats)
Hatchbacks are vehicles with the same number of seats as sedans, but the cabin design is similar to CUVs, SUVs, and MPVs, and they are much more compact than sedans.
The passenger seat in a hatchback is always the most dangerous position, whether in a frontal or rear-end collision. In the event of a crash, the person in this seat could hit their head on the windshield if they are not wearing a seatbelt.
Rear seat positions are considered safer. In particular, the middle seat is still considered the safest.
CUV, SUV, MPV (5-7 seats)
SUVs and MPVs have separate frames and cabins, making them more resistant to impact than sedans. If rear-ended, the rear of an SUV or MPV is easily deformed, posing a direct threat to the lives of rear passengers.
According to experts, the middle seat in the second row is considered the safest in CUVs, SUVs, and MPVs.
The risk of serious injury from traffic accidents is lowest, and there is a 70% chance of reducing injuries compared to other seating positions if a collision occurs.