Are Hybrid Vehicles Safe?

The cost of living is on the rise, and oil prices are hitting record levels.  People are more than careful these days how they operate their vehicles because of gas prices.  These challenges have caused many people to look at the growing trend of driving hybrid vehicles. However, are hybrid vehicles safe?

Hybrid vehicles have proven to be as safe as gasoline-powered vehicles.  The crash specifications are the same as those of normal cars.  Hybrids also have the same restraint and airbag systems installed.  The only area that might be of concern is the high voltage circuits linked to the drive motor assembly.

However, these components are marked for safety, and the cables are wrapped in bright colors that indicate caution.  Additionally, the cables are not located in areas where vehicle occupants would ordinarily discover them.

Many of the current hybrids on the road are quick, small, and nimble. They also rank high in safety ratings for their class.  While SUV's tend to make people feel safe, they have an atrocious record in terms of rolling over in a quick turn.  They are also quite difficult to maneuver, and this can often be a safety challenge within itself.

Also, SUV's do not have to meet the same safety standards as passenger cars, due to federal rules that classify SUV's in the same category as light trucks.  The hybrid has to meet the same safety standards as those of a conventional vehicle.  For the consumer, safety should not be a reason to avoid purchasing a hybrid as compared to its conventional counterpart.

Many manufacturers of hybrids also address safety by posting online manuals that address rescue procedures in case of an accident.  Safety courses, including hands-on-training, are also provided for emergency workers.  The bottom line is that hybrids do not pose a greater threat than conventional vehicles in the event of a collision or rescue.

However, since hybrid vehicles have similar loads of gasoline, antifreeze, and other potentially dangerous fluids, the danger posed is not less than that of a conventional vehicle.  Some hybrids use as much as 650 volts of electrical power, and by all standards this amount is enough to cause serious damage under the right conditions.

This makes it imperative that the owner or rescuer of a hybrid vehicle is up on all the standard safety procedures.  There are also built-in electronic fail-safe measures for many models that address the safety issue.  As a whole, the industry is very keen on educating consumers and safety rescuers on safety protocols.  The last thing anyone wants is for an emergency responder to hesitate during an emergency call.

According to the experts, the growing vehicle segment of hybrid vehicles should not pose a threat that is greater than that of traditional combustion engine cars.