Safe Speed Forums

Old Minis 'most vulnerable' in a crash
By David Millward, Transport Correspondent
(Filed: 13/10/2006)

The driver of an old-style Mini is 14 times more likely to be killed or injured in a two-car crash than somebody behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive such as a Land Rover or Isuzu Trooper, according to figures released by the Department for Transport.

Its study, based on examining the consequences of 67,000 crashes between 2000 and 2004, shows that motorists in small cars run a greater risk than those in larger models.

But while the DfT research is based on real accidents - rather than laboratory tests as carried out in the Euro NCAP surveys - the Department said the survey should be treated with caution.

"It does not address issues of primary safety and gives no information on whether or not specific makes of car have different risks of being involved in an accident," the DfT noted.

According to the study six per cent of drivers of small sports cars involved in a crash with another vehicle were killed or seriously injured, with the lowest percentage being four per cent in a BMW Z3 and the highest seven per cent in the Toyota MR2 1990 to 1995 version.

The average for small cars was seven per cent with the old version of the Mini faring worst with 14 per cent of drivers in two-vehicle accidents being either killed or seriously hurt.

On the other hand those behind the wheel of a Citroen fared best with only three per cent sustaining serious or fatal injuries.

Four wheel drive cars had the best record with three per cent of drivers dying or being injured in two vehicle accidents.

People carriers and large cars came next with four per cent, medium cars scored five per cent, while small-medium cars showed six per cent of drivers being killed or injured after an accident.

DRIVERS of small and medium-sized cars are 50 times more likely to be killed in collisions with another car than drivers of 4x4s or people-carriers, according to the Department for Transport.

Also reported in The Times here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 89,00.html

This says:


It will give people a further reason to buy a 4x4

The old shape mini was taken out of production because it did not meet modern crash testing. It was given a stay of execution because some of the laws did not apply to existing platform, but eventualy it caught up.

By modern standards it is a death trap.

Yes, no other cars of a 1950s design were kept in production anywhere near so long.

Not even the VW Beetle?

The German built Beetle lasted 40 years (38 to 78) the mini went from 59 to 2001.

Perhaps it could be rephrased as the old Mini was the only car of 1950s design that survived in production long enough (and on the UK market) to make it through to the era of NCAP crash testing.

Peter seems to think that driving skills only came after the demise of the Mini - Sorry - in those days we had peeps called Trafpols to keep us in line --

Perhaps it could be rephrased as the old Mini was the only car of 1950s design that survived in production long enough (and on the UK market) to make it through to the era of NCAP crash testing.

I wouldn't reckon much to my chances of survival in a 2CV

(I know we've had a spat, mate, but I think we agree on 90%+ of the message)

The first person that I knew who was killed on the road was driving a mini, which was a relatively new (old) one at the time. Found himself on the wrong side of the road (cannot remember if I ever knew why - possibly steering around a potential accident) and the oncoming vehicle tore it into little pieces with him still in it (around the potential accident and into a real one).