What You Need to Know About Minivans and Safety
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The average driver death rate across all light vehicle types is 87 per million registered vehicle years. Only midsize and large luxury cars have a better record: 41 and 37 fatalities, respectively. While it's impossible with these data to separate the vehicle completely from the way it's driven, the IIHS adjusts the results in an attempt to represent the safety of the vehicles themselves. Either way, the minivan and large wagon tally is well below average. For full-size van safety information, click here.
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Minivans, as a class, are safe for several reasons. One is that they're large and heavy. Though the crash tests don't reflect it, weight is an advantage in a collision, all other things being equal. Sport utility vehicles might be heavy, too, but they also have a higher center of gravity and are thus more prone to rollover. In comparison, minivans are stable. Historically, truck-based SUVs have not been as meticulously designed to absorb crash energy as are cars (and car-based SUVs). The unibody construction of most minivans includes crumple zones that take the hit — so the occupants don't. In short, the minivan has the advantages of an SUV without the drawbacks.
Despite their weight, minivans also tend to be friendlier to any vehicle with which they collide. Because they ride lower, minivans contact a smaller vehicle bumper to bumper. This ensures that both vehicles' crumple zones engage and absorb the crash energy as best they can. Conversely, SUVs are known for overriding a car's strongest structure and plowing into the occupant compartment relatively unhindered.
All of the minivan's safety drawbacks — like its advantages — relate to its size and weight. The minivan is a safe place to be in a collision, but it's not the best vehicle for avoiding one. It's not particularly nimble, and it can't squeeze past trouble as readily as a small car might. Though minivans are designed to brake in a reasonably short space, smaller and sportier cars obviously can stop shorter.
Driver comfort is no small issue in a vehicle of this size. Some drivers find large vehicles unwieldy, and an uncomfortable or scared driver is never safe. Features such as tilt/telescoping steering wheels and adjustable pedals go a long way in fitting drivers of vastly different sizes, but if the minivan's bigness out in traffic freaks you out, you might want to consider something smaller.
Visibility also can be an issue. Minivans ride higher than do cars, and the combination of this and the low, sloping hoods on modern models make forward visibility quite good. Visibility to the rear is a mixed bag: The many windows help one see vehicles in the blind spots, though the vehicle's height serves to hide lower-riding cars. Vehicle height is even more of a concern directly to the rear. This is mostly a problem when backing up or trying to park, a safety issue mainly because one could run into a child or the neighbor's petunias — either of which could result in bodily harm to someone. The best solution to this problem is a rearview camera feature, followed by the more widespread beeping sonar park assist.
There is simply no safer vehicle for children than a minivan. It's inherently safe, as discussed above, and its size and features provide safety beyond the obvious.
Room to work: We used to think that buying a minivan in preparation for a second child was a bit of an overreaction. Experience has proven it's not such a bad idea. Children may be small, but child-safety seats are huge. Now health experts recommend keeping the young'uns in booster seats to later years and larger sizes. Two such seats in the backseat of a regular car or wagon leaves little space for anything else, let alone an adult.
Aside from the cushion real estate, the copious space and 360-degree access that minivans provide simplify installing a child-safety seat, with its increasingly complex network of straps and tethers. The headroom makes it easier to kneel into one of the older-style child seats and secure it with the seat belt.
Keeping the peace: Were you under the impression that the role of the van's three seat rows is to accommodate up to eight people? No, no, no. The idea is to seat one sibling alone in the second row, put the other alone in the third row and declare a demilitarized zone over the second-row backrest. This effectively de-escalates the conflict from a hot to a cold war and allows you to concentrate on driving rather than playing the U.N. If that's not a safety feature, what is?
In that same vein, the rear-seat video entertainment system — widely available in minivans — is perhaps the best thing to happen to parent motorists in automotive history. Fire up a DVD or video game, and you'll forget the rugrats are even back there. Thanks to cordless headphones, they're in their own little world and you can listen to the stereo up front. We've never met a parent who regretted buying this option.
Power-sliding door safety: Some parents voice concerns about their children being injured by power-sliding doors. All such doors are designed to reverse if they hit an obstruction. The amount of pressure they apply varies from model to model; even the most vigorous is unlikely to injure a child, but it could give 'em a scare.
If you're concerned, check out the 2005 Honda Odyssey, whose doors have a highly touch-sensitive strip on their leading edges. You might consider going without the power feature, but children are one of the best reasons to buy it. When you have your arms full of kids and/or groceries, the power doors are a godsend. Likewise, at the soccer field they're the difference between pushing a button from the driver's seat and getting out to open the door manually, as small children haven't the strength to operate sliding doors.
Seat belts a must: It's a common misconception that seat belt use is unnecessary in the backseat. This is completely untrue. Aside from greater risk to the backseat occupants themselves, the Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that an unbelted rear-seat passenger increases the front-seat occupant's risk of death by 20 percent. Why? Because in a frontal collision at just 30 mph, an unbelted 120-pound backseat occupant will strike whatever's in front of him with the force of more than 1,000 pounds. Something about vans makes people want to roam around inside them when in motion. Don't do it.
Don't miss the information below about children and airbags.
ABS and disc brakes: Antilock braking systems, increasingly a standard feature, are well worth having. They shorten stopping distances in some situations, but their main benefit is they allow the driver to steer even when applying maximum braking. Though drum brakes are more susceptible to lockup, ABS mitigates the problem. Still, four-wheel disc brakes are optimal.
Airbags aplenty: A full set of airbags can improve an occupant's survivability dramatically. Frontal airbags are required on all cars; the side-impact variety are not. Side airbags that deploy from the seatbacks generally are intended to protect the occupant's torso, though some extend higher for head protection — especially in the absence of side curtain-type airbags.
Side curtain-type airbags deploy downward from the ceiling, covering all of the side windows, even in many three-row minivans. This type has proven critical in protecting occupants, especially when T-boned by a higher-riding vehicle. This type of crash poses a high risk of head injury, which is the least survivable type of trauma.
There's little or no concern about side curtain-type airbags harming children. But conventional side-impact airbags can be dangerous, so they seldom appear in backseats. If you're concerned about a side-impact airbag in the front passenger seat, consider buying one of the Honda or Acura models that automatically disables the side bag when the seat occupant is leaning too close to the door. Never put a child-safety seat in the front passenger seat.
The latest vehicles also feature advanced frontal airbags, which deploy at more than one level for occupants of different sizes. They employ the Occupant Classification System in the front passenger seat and crash-severity sensors to determine the correct airbag intensity. Advanced frontal airbags will be required in all cars and light trucks produced after Sept. 1, 2006. Until then, they are slowly being phased in. Note that, even with OCS, airbags are not effective unless used with seat belts. Again, never put a child-safety seat in the front passenger seat.
Electronic stability system: Known by innumerable names, most of which include the word "stability," these computer-based systems brake individual wheels and control the throttle to keep the vehicle on the intended path in low-traction situations. Increasingly, this feature is standard on luxury and more modest vehicles. Honda already includes it in every 2005 Odyssey.
Backup aid: To protect people and things behind the minivan, consider a rearview camera (optional on the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna) or a sonar-based park assist (available on many models) that beeps with tones of increasing frequency as the bumper approaches an object.
Head restraints: Not simply "headrests" for occupant comfort, head restraints are intended to protect against whiplash injuries, particularly in a rear-end collision. Buyers should look for head restraints — for every seating position — that extend high enough for the tallest likely occupant, and rest, or can be positioned, close to the head.
Tilt/telescoping steering wheel: Aside from making the driver as comfortable as possible, the telescoping adjustment, in particular, helps distance the driver properly from the airbag, regardless of his or her size. The next feature serves a similar purpose.
Adjustable pedals: Adjustable pedals serve a similar purpose as the telescoping steering wheel, allowing drivers to distance themselves optimally from the steering wheel without compromising pedal reach.
Safety Advantages: Big, Heavy and Stable
Minivans, as a class, are safe for several reasons. One is that they're large and heavy. Though the crash tests don't reflect it, weight is an advantage in a collision, all other things being equal. Sport utility vehicles might be heavy, too, but they also have a higher center of gravity and are thus more prone to rollover. In comparison, minivans are stable. Historically, truck-based SUVs have not been as meticulously designed to absorb crash energy as are cars (and car-based SUVs). The unibody construction of most minivans includes crumple zones that take the hit — so the occupants don't. In short, the minivan has the advantages of an SUV without the drawbacks.Despite their weight, minivans also tend to be friendlier to any vehicle with which they collide. Because they ride lower, minivans contact a smaller vehicle bumper to bumper. This ensures that both vehicles' crumple zones engage and absorb the crash energy as best they can. Conversely, SUVs are known for overriding a car's strongest structure and plowing into the occupant compartment relatively unhindered.
Safety Disadvantages: Big, Heavy and Unwieldy
All of the minivan's safety drawbacks — like its advantages — relate to its size and weight. The minivan is a safe place to be in a collision, but it's not the best vehicle for avoiding one. It's not particularly nimble, and it can't squeeze past trouble as readily as a small car might. Though minivans are designed to brake in a reasonably short space, smaller and sportier cars obviously can stop shorter. |
| Minivan buyers looking for something a little smaller than the segment's norm may find Mazda's MPV to their liking. |
Visibility also can be an issue. Minivans ride higher than do cars, and the combination of this and the low, sloping hoods on modern models make forward visibility quite good. Visibility to the rear is a mixed bag: The many windows help one see vehicles in the blind spots, though the vehicle's height serves to hide lower-riding cars. Vehicle height is even more of a concern directly to the rear. This is mostly a problem when backing up or trying to park, a safety issue mainly because one could run into a child or the neighbor's petunias — either of which could result in bodily harm to someone. The best solution to this problem is a rearview camera feature, followed by the more widespread beeping sonar park assist.
Children and Minivans
There is simply no safer vehicle for children than a minivan. It's inherently safe, as discussed above, and its size and features provide safety beyond the obvious.Room to work: We used to think that buying a minivan in preparation for a second child was a bit of an overreaction. Experience has proven it's not such a bad idea. Children may be small, but child-safety seats are huge. Now health experts recommend keeping the young'uns in booster seats to later years and larger sizes. Two such seats in the backseat of a regular car or wagon leaves little space for anything else, let alone an adult.
Aside from the cushion real estate, the copious space and 360-degree access that minivans provide simplify installing a child-safety seat, with its increasingly complex network of straps and tethers. The headroom makes it easier to kneel into one of the older-style child seats and secure it with the seat belt.
Keeping the peace: Were you under the impression that the role of the van's three seat rows is to accommodate up to eight people? No, no, no. The idea is to seat one sibling alone in the second row, put the other alone in the third row and declare a demilitarized zone over the second-row backrest. This effectively de-escalates the conflict from a hot to a cold war and allows you to concentrate on driving rather than playing the U.N. If that's not a safety feature, what is?
 |
| The Pontiac Montana SV6's DVD-based entertainment system comes standard in the minivan. |
Power-sliding door safety: Some parents voice concerns about their children being injured by power-sliding doors. All such doors are designed to reverse if they hit an obstruction. The amount of pressure they apply varies from model to model; even the most vigorous is unlikely to injure a child, but it could give 'em a scare.
If you're concerned, check out the 2005 Honda Odyssey, whose doors have a highly touch-sensitive strip on their leading edges. You might consider going without the power feature, but children are one of the best reasons to buy it. When you have your arms full of kids and/or groceries, the power doors are a godsend. Likewise, at the soccer field they're the difference between pushing a button from the driver's seat and getting out to open the door manually, as small children haven't the strength to operate sliding doors.
Seat belts a must: It's a common misconception that seat belt use is unnecessary in the backseat. This is completely untrue. Aside from greater risk to the backseat occupants themselves, the Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that an unbelted rear-seat passenger increases the front-seat occupant's risk of death by 20 percent. Why? Because in a frontal collision at just 30 mph, an unbelted 120-pound backseat occupant will strike whatever's in front of him with the force of more than 1,000 pounds. Something about vans makes people want to roam around inside them when in motion. Don't do it.
Don't miss the information below about children and airbags.
Safety Features to Look For
ABS and disc brakes: Antilock braking systems, increasingly a standard feature, are well worth having. They shorten stopping distances in some situations, but their main benefit is they allow the driver to steer even when applying maximum braking. Though drum brakes are more susceptible to lockup, ABS mitigates the problem. Still, four-wheel disc brakes are optimal.Airbags aplenty: A full set of airbags can improve an occupant's survivability dramatically. Frontal airbags are required on all cars; the side-impact variety are not. Side airbags that deploy from the seatbacks generally are intended to protect the occupant's torso, though some extend higher for head protection — especially in the absence of side curtain-type airbags.
Side curtain-type airbags deploy downward from the ceiling, covering all of the side windows, even in many three-row minivans. This type has proven critical in protecting occupants, especially when T-boned by a higher-riding vehicle. This type of crash poses a high risk of head injury, which is the least survivable type of trauma.
There's little or no concern about side curtain-type airbags harming children. But conventional side-impact airbags can be dangerous, so they seldom appear in backseats. If you're concerned about a side-impact airbag in the front passenger seat, consider buying one of the Honda or Acura models that automatically disables the side bag when the seat occupant is leaning too close to the door. Never put a child-safety seat in the front passenger seat.
The latest vehicles also feature advanced frontal airbags, which deploy at more than one level for occupants of different sizes. They employ the Occupant Classification System in the front passenger seat and crash-severity sensors to determine the correct airbag intensity. Advanced frontal airbags will be required in all cars and light trucks produced after Sept. 1, 2006. Until then, they are slowly being phased in. Note that, even with OCS, airbags are not effective unless used with seat belts. Again, never put a child-safety seat in the front passenger seat.
Electronic stability system: Known by innumerable names, most of which include the word "stability," these computer-based systems brake individual wheels and control the throttle to keep the vehicle on the intended path in low-traction situations. Increasingly, this feature is standard on luxury and more modest vehicles. Honda already includes it in every 2005 Odyssey.
 |
| The Ford Freestar's optional Reverse Sensing System detects obstacles to the rear of the vehicle when backing up. |
Head restraints: Not simply "headrests" for occupant comfort, head restraints are intended to protect against whiplash injuries, particularly in a rear-end collision. Buyers should look for head restraints — for every seating position — that extend high enough for the tallest likely occupant, and rest, or can be positioned, close to the head.
Tilt/telescoping steering wheel: Aside from making the driver as comfortable as possible, the telescoping adjustment, in particular, helps distance the driver properly from the airbag, regardless of his or her size. The next feature serves a similar purpose.
Adjustable pedals: Adjustable pedals serve a similar purpose as the telescoping steering wheel, allowing drivers to distance themselves optimally from the steering wheel without compromising pedal reach.
