Treehugger: SUV’s not safer for Kids
One would think that nothwitstanding everything else we dislike about big SUV’s, that they would be at least safer for kids in them than a smaller car. In fact, a recent study or insurance statistics by the Partners for Child Passenger Safety looked at accidents involving 4,000 children in newer SUV’s and found the rates to be almost identical to conventional cars. They found that the extra weight provided enhanced safety (reducing injuries by a third) but the tendency to roll over completely offset this. Children in rollovers were three times as likely to be seriously injured than those in non-rollovers. ‘we are challenging the conventional wisdom that everyone assumed they were better’ said a surprised researcher.

If you are looking for safety, a SUV is not the solution.