I recommend visiting this link ->http://blogs.consumerreports.org/car...tters.htmlHere is a quote from Consumer Reports/IIHS

This is an excerpt:

It’s long been known that in a duel between a small, light vehicle and a big, heavy one that the big car usually wins, based solely on the laws of physics. Just how bad it is for small-car occupants has been less clear. Now the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has started to address that question with offset-frontal crash tests pitting three subcompact cars—the Honda Fit, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris—against larger ones from the same automaker. The results aren’t so good for occupants of the small cars. The three subcompacts tested all rated a “Poor,” meaning that serious or fatal injuries to the driver were likely. (See videos of IIHS crash tests.)

The NHTSA ratings apply to crashes within the same weight class. Note the way the crash test is conducted. Each car is crashed into a fixed barrier at a given speed. That simulates a crash with another vehicle of the same mass. The NHTSA does qualify their results but it is in the small print that nobody actually reads.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS) side impact test crashes are comparable across weight class because they use the same SUV like sled for all vehicles.

 

I know you were just trying to make a point with that, but wearing a helmet while driving a car on public roadways is ticket-able in most states. Something or other about 'impared vision'.

 

It's nice that the MINI is a sturdy little baby--it protected me in a rollover--but let's not forget that most bad accidents I hear about tend to fall into one of three categories: horsing around; intersections, and oncoming traffic crossing over into ones' lane.

The first is fully avoidable.

The second is highly avoidable--look as you approach the intersection. Has saved me numerous times here in Alabama.

The last is also largely avoidable--pay attention to traffic.

But most of us get so comfortable on the road that we get distracted or bored.

 

Defensive driving.
You have to assume that everyone else is incompetent, drunk, high, young and inexperienced, old and inexperienced, inexperienced, whatever.
To some extent this will be the case. In So. Cal. where I live, people used to pretty good drivers. Starting around the end of 2001, I have seen what seems to be a marked increase in dangerous drivers. People driving at 90 or 100 on crowded freeways. People running red lights. I don't know if it is a result of fewer people taking driver training courses or a fatalism engendered by watching 9/11 television coverage. <Political views removed by moderator>
It is important to point out that correlation is not causation...but I 'm still leaning towards that last observation.

Anyway...back to what I was trying to say.

Defensive driving is key.

Never assume that just because the light has turned green, it is safe to proceed. Always look first. I would be dead several times over if I did not do this. People frequently try to "make the light" even if it isn't green..or even yellow. They step on the gas and go for it. More often than not they are driving a giant SUV. This is a very common accident scenario and totally preventable with defensive driving. When the light turns green...look both ways first. It takes less than one second. It doesn't make you a sissy or a goofball or a dork. It makes you a smart driver that won't get t-boned.

Obviously you don't want to be the idiot that burns through red lights either. If you can learn to slow down at the yellow light you will probably live much longer and definitely get fewer tickets.

 

Good 411...thanks for clearing that up!