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SUV Rollover Safety

When most people buy a new car, their primary concern is with safety. While SUVs typically do pretty well in accidents, they can be dangerous at times due to their tendency to rollover. This fact is usually trumped by the versatility and usability of these vehicles, however. People buy them because they offer ample space and can handle a wide variety of terrain, though the latter is often not really utilized by consumers. No, SUVs make for practical family cars because they can seat many people and there's tons of room to store day to day items and cargo should you go on vacation. 

One thing that a lot of people don't know is that SUVs can't carry as much as you think. Sure, you can load up your camping equipment but you really can't carry anything significantly heavy. To do so would put the vehicle at risk for blowing out the tires and causing problems with the brakes. Likewise, the more you load up an SUV, the more likely it is to rollover. 

Even without a full load, SUVs are more likely to rollover than other vehicles. This is due to the way they're built: they ride much higher off the ground than a standard vehicle. This is an attribute many people find to be appealing because it gives them greater command of the road. However, these vehicles are known to tip over if you take a corner too sharply or even if you encounter harsh winds on an open road. 

One way to avoid the potential safety hazards of SUVs is to opt for a crossover instead. These cars are lower to the ground while still offering the large cargo space and durability of an SUV. They also usually have greater stability features like skid control. 

If you absolutely must have an SUV, it's a good idea to brush up on safety regulations. Since 2004, all SUVs have to indicate the maximum weight the vehicle can hold on the doorjamb to reduce the risk of rollover. By educating the public, the National Highway Safety Commission felt they would greatly reduce rollover accidents due to overloading of vehicles

Minimizing load capacity is a smart way to reduce the risk of rollover, but it doesn't eliminate it completely. SUVs have a high center of gravity, and there's nothing you can do about that. However, you should always make an effort to keep your tires properly inflated and check tire pressure before you head out on long trips, just in case. 

 

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