[TigerClaws]

Those tiny cars are death boxes. Would be okay if every vehicle on the road were that size.

[ConservativeWarrior]

“Would be okay if every vehicle on the road were that size.”

++++++++++++++++++++++

Exactly. Crash testing is done at a specified speed into a stationary wall. The opposing force is always equal to the mass X speed of the vehicle hitting the wall.

This is how a tiny car can earn a better safety rating for frontal collision than a large SUV. It’s only encountering opposing force equal to its own.

In reality, the tests should be conducted by imparting force to the test vehicle equal to the average vehicle’s weight X speed it’s likely to encounter on the road.

You’d see quite different safety ratings for these toys.

[MrEdd]

That would only be a true statement if there were zero small trees along the road. Since there are small trees along the road, the statement is false.

A low mass car will come to a potentially fatal complete stop when it hits a tree which would snap and only slow a larger vehicle down.

Big trees will stop even large vehicles.

[norwaypinesavage]

"Would be okay if every vehicle on the road were that size."

Not really. Most crashes are single vehicle. In a single vehicle crash, the severity is mostly determined by the "crush space" between you and whatever you hit. Little cars don't have much crush space.

[Dr. Sivana]

Those tiny cars are death boxes. Would be okay if every vehicle on the road were that size.

Unless you hit a tree or Jersey Barrier at high speed.