Miss Fit is the smallest car I've driven. Over the last 14 years I went from min van, to volvo wagon, to Toyota 4 Runner, and now finally my Fit.

A few weeks ago I witness a fatality on the road (head on collision). It involved a large SUV and a mid 80's Honda. The SUV air bags deployed and the lady walked away, although dazed and stunned, with most likely minor enjuries. The man in the Honda died instantly, and of course, no air bags for that year. I believe the paper said it was an 85 Honda.

I felt very safe in my 4 Runner. After that accident, I have been even more mindful of how small I am compared to other cars on the road. My 07 Fit has both driver and passenger airbags and sides too. My back has side air bags. Ya'll know this as well.

Still, I feel vulnerable. Some of the things I do while driving are: no cell phone calls, no messing with the radio, but honestly I can push buttons without even looking at it. (I've witnessed women applying mascara while driving ) I just pay attention to my driving as well as those around me.

What do you think/how do you feel?

 

Safety concerns might prevent me from getting a Fit, or any other small car. There are too many big trucks and SUVs out there.

I am used to driving a large sedan, and the Fit would be a second car. However, I know that it would be fun to drive.

Size and weight are key in determining fuel economy. I guess that everything is trade-off.

Be Safe!

 

I doubt anything can touch it. Naturally if you have a head on with a huge pick up etc. your toast but these cars really impress me with the types of metals used for the cage and crumple zones and particularly the air bags. Hell you have front, side, AND head protection. It don't get no better than that. Eventually the US will start to look more and more like Europe with the vast majority of cars being small, high efficiency models.
Unfortunately even in Europe you still have "lorries" to haul things but SUV's etc. will gradually start to disappear.
Already I see about 2/3 of the Hummers that used to be on the road and just TRY to unload anything with a large displacement powerplant. Generally speaking your talking about a 30%-50% loss of investment.

 

any small car is NOT safe! no matter how many airbags you have. just deal with it. no car is safe.
YouTube - Crash Test 4x4 vs. Honda Civic Coupe 92

 

Arguably motorcycles are even less safe, yet people still use them. You can't guarantee safety no matter what you drive. I've seen my share of roll overs from these big "safer" SUV's that killed the owner. All a matter of perspective and what amount of cost vs. risk you are willing to take. Not to sound morbid, but look at it this way. If you were the driver of a big safe SUV, and it was your fault that you killed someone in a small car and you walked away. You are going to be wishing you died as well, because you are going to pay financially and mentally for the rest of your life. Don't leave all the blame on the cars and their size. Yes that has something to do with it, but so does the person behind the wheel.

 

I run the just about then entire 30 mile length of the I-696 super-slab in the Detroit suburbs. This highway is commonly called the Detroit Autobahn. It is faaaast! And yes I have driven in Birmingham, AL. that is fast, but not 696 fast.

As I have said before on this site, Detriot is the last bastion of the SUV and pickup truck. The manufacturers are giving huge incentives to employees to take them. I feel completely same driving my BBP 08. I watch my surroundings, always give myslf and "out", and can break faster and change lanes quicker, if need be, than a Z06 Corvette. There are two other fits I see out there almost every day braving the rush with me. A VBP Sport and a black Base. Hi guys

If someone blows a red at an intersection and I t-bone them or they me, well if it is below 45 I should be OK. Above 45 I will be going to the hospital. Above 60 well It was good knowing you.

This is the risk we all take driving a car, which is the largest cause of accidental death in the US. About 43,000 each year, and I bet only 2 or 3 were in a fit.

 

No car is really safe. It just depends upon the circumstances. Drive with awareness and you're already way ahead of the game.

BTW, I have a friend who used to curl her eyelashes while driving. She only did it once with me in the car, however.

 

yes the Fit is tiny... but it is best in class safety... another thing about it that most ppl ignore, accident avoidence... with how nimble the car is you can avoid accidents... i have avoided several that had i been in a larger car i would not have been able to avoid, i think the avoidence factor in the Fit makes up for some of the safety loss due to small size....

 

Safety concerns stopped me from getting small cars in the past, however, my 4runner was eating me alive in fuel cost. When I started to shop around for a small car, I knew it had to be a honda, but the size of the Fit worried me. However, I did read it is safest in its class, or up there near safest.

 

Yes, I have dealt with it, but I'll pass on watcing the crash test. The real accident I saw a few weeks back scared me enough. I went to help the man and was within arms reach of him, but it was obvious there was nothing I could do.

 

When you say, "always give myself an out", do you mean that you do not ride too close to the car in front of you? Stay away from the pack?

When stopped on a read at intersections, I always look when I get the green light to make sure no one is going to run their red. It's something my dad told me to do when I was in high school.

 

For what it's worth, I feel VERY safe in my fit. Whenever a passenger asks about safety, I always point to their front airbag, their side curtain airbag, and their in-seat side airbag. For rear passengers, I point to the plastic molding over the rear doors that says "air bag."

At this point, I usually hear "Oh, well all right then!"

 

I think he means that you watch the lanes around you to plan where you would go if there is a problem. You look for the open spaces to slide into if someone comes into your lane, for example. Yes, you stay back from other cars if possible. Where I'm from, hanging back just allows another 2 cars to jump in front and fill the gap, so you just never win. I think keeping your eyes on the road at all times and not trying to do anything but drive helps a lot too. I am always scanning the rear view mirror and the sides. One trick that my son taught me is to put the side mirrors out as far as they will go (you will not see the side of your car at all). This eliminates the blind spot, since you will see the car coming up on your side in your side view as soon as it is out of your rear view. It really works, try it! It feels weird at first but it really works.

 

thats good thinking at an intersection... just cuz other ppl have the red... dont mean they r gnna stop, being alert is the best way to avoid an accident... since most drivers r in their own little world its really up to you to make sure your ok out there.... safe driving everyone

 

That must have been awful. I have never seen a bad accident and hope I never do...how sad and helpless you must have felt. Are you in the medical field, then?

 

I feel safe in the Fit.... not as safe as my old jeep though.

I would consider an SUV again if they introduce something with a manual and a diesel engine. Otherwise I just can't justify the fuel for them anymore.

 

Cars nowadays are amazingly (I almost wrote ridiculously) safe. Considering I'd say 90% of accidents occur at less than 40mph*, and cars have airbags all over the place, crumple zones, active safety, etc. I'd say the Fit is pretty safe. I feel safer in the Fit than I did in my '95 Toyota Previa, then again I don't think I've ever felt "unsafe" in a car.

I could be hit by a car crossing the street. I could burn to death in a freak fire. My heart could stop in the middle of the night with no warning.

*Not sure the exact statistics on this, but I'm going to throw these numbers out there.

 

No, I'm not in the medical field, but I never thought twice about not running up to his car. I was 4 cars back. Traffic stopped immediately. If anything to talk to him and assure him help was on the way, you know.
Two men went to aid the SUV driver and three of us ran to help the honda driver. It's instinctual to help, and yes, we felt helpless seeing him. I thank God he was unconscious and appeared to have not suffered. My kids stayed in the car, but they knew it was bad. We prayed and cried together. My son stated the next day that he was afraid to ride in the car now, but 5-6 days a week, off we go as life must go on.

Thank you for the side view mirror tip!

 

That's right. Like I told my son, do what you know; the rest in in God's hands. I suppose with the thread on safety, it all boils down to doing what you know and being aware at all times.

I just had to ask other's opinions and thoughts on their Fit/safety.

 

I'm not really concerned with my safety in the Fit. I feel that if I get into an accident, the Fit will protect me well (even if it is tiny). The thing that I am concerned about though is that if I was to be involved in a accident, the Fit would probably be totaled out. In all the accidents that involve Fits that I have seen, the Fit seems to crumple really easily. I'm used to more substantial(heavy) cars (my last car was an Acura Legend that was an absolute tank). It makes me sad to think that if little Fitski gets hit, then it will probably be toast.