Smaller Cars Are Unsafe, Redistricting Hearing, Olympic Sports You Can Try In Wisconsin

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Small cars are popular these days because of their fuel efficiency, but a new report shows there are some serious safety concerns with smaller cars. Veronica Rueckert and Gene Purcell talk to a car safety expert about the facts. They also examine a hearing on redistricting in Wisconsin, and they learn about the first African-American to win an medal in the Olympics, who was from Wisconsin. Then they hear about a few Olympic sports you can try right here in the Badger State.

Featured in this Show

  • Car Safety Expert Expresses Concerns About Minicars

    Smaller cars like the Honda Fit and the Chevy Spark are very popular right now, with their great gas mileage and easy maneuverability. But, new safety tests reveal that many of these so-called minicars crush their occupants in certain kinds of crashes.

    Joe Nolan, senior vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), said that prospective buyers should take heed.

    “Of the 11 models we tested, only 1 manages to avoid a marginal or poor rating. That’s the Chevy Spark. It earned our second-highest rating of acceptable. But, in a field of 11, that’s not stellar news,” Nolan said.

    The IIHS rated vehicles on a scale of good, acceptable, marginal and poor. This is the first time they’ve looked at how minicars hold up in “small overlap crashes.” Those take place when two cars are coming at each other from opposite directions on a country road and one vehicle veers into the other car’s lane. Only a third of the cars lines up in small overlap crashes. Nolan describes it as “almost a side-swipe, but not much.”

    According to the new testing, it appears the structure of these vehicles isn’t built to absorb this type of crash.

    “What’s happening in these crashes is the structure of the vehicle isn’t designed to absorb the crash forces and energy up in the front in the crumple zone, where it should, and instead it manages to make its way all the way back into the occupant compartment. And so, they’re using the occupant compartment to absorb crash energy and that means it’s crushing, and that’s where you sit,” Nolan said.

    When these crashes happen, the person in the car isn’t protected by the air bag because the steering column moves to the right, while the driver moves to the left in the crash.

    These cars do a great job in safety testing that pits them against a flat wall, according to Nolan. They also perform well in a moderate-overlap crash, which is when half of the cars overlap with each other. The new test results show there are spots in the car’s structure in the front end that can’t really absorb crash energy.

    Does this mean we shouldn’t buy minicars?

    “Minicars are at an inherent disadvantage out of the box, just because they’re light. Mass is a benefit in crashes. You want to be in the heaviest thing you can be in–to a point, we don’t all need to be driving tanks — but bigger is better. So, you’re already starting out shopping in a category where there’s a fundamental disbenefit,” Nolan saiud. “I wouldn’t think this is your first choice for safety.”

    But the researcher said that he doesn’t think it’s fair to call these cars unsafe. He calls it a “learning curve.” Some of the changes that need to happen will take a long time. Nolan said the good news is most of the automakers are responding and changing their designs.

  • Small Cars, Big Safety Concerns In Recent Tests

    Mini-cars are growing in popularity for their fuel efficiency and ease of parking, but a new study suggests that many brands don’t stack up when it comes to safety. A car safety expert shares the latest research.

  • Those In Favor Of Nonpartisan Redistricting Convene At The Capitol

    Those in favor of nonpartisan redistricting reform held an informal hearing at the Capitol on Monday. An expert on elections and and voting districts explains the proposed reforms.

  • Winter Olympic Events You Can Try Right Here In Wisconsin

    With the Olympics in full swing, there’s bound to be increased interest in the sports being shown on TV. A writer talks about where you can go in Wisconsin to try out some of these sports.

Episode Credits

  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Rob Ferrett Producer
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Joe Nolan Guest
  • Ken Mayer Guest
  • Cheryl Anderson Guest