NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
The gap between the safety of car models and sport/utility vehicles is widening, according to a published report.
The New York Times, citing an analysis of federal traffic data, reported Tuesday that SUVs were 11 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal crash in 2003 than those in car models, based on fatalities per 100,000 vehicles registered. It said that gap is wider than it had been in 2002.
It said in 2003 there were 16.42 deaths of SUV drivers and passengers for every 100,000 registered SUVs. That compares with 14.85 for every 100,000 car models. Pickups had 15.17 fatalities per 100,000 vehicles on the road, while vans and minivans were the lowest fatality rate, with 11.2 deaths per 100,000 registered vehicles.
The article did not give the data for 2002 fatalities rates. The graphic included with the story showed the fatality rate for SUVs improving, although not as much as for cars and pickups.
The newspaper said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and safety advocates blame the greater likelihood of a rollover of an SUV for the higher fatality rate. Industry officials disputed that the SUVs are unsafe, saying newer models have greater safety features.
In fact, the data showed that the largest SUVs are actually safer than many car models, partly because occupants of larger vehicles are better offer in a crash between small and large vehicles.
The newspaper said that minivans have the best safety record when comparing fatalities per miles traveled, with only 2.76 deaths per billion miles. Large passenger cars and station wagons are No. 2 in that measure with only 3.3 deaths per billion miles. The large SUVs came in next at 3.79 deaths per billion miles.
Midsize SUVs, which include the segment's most popular models, came in fifth at 6.73 deaths per billion miles, behind midsize cars but better than small cars or sport car models.
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