Final answer:
The sturdy construction of an SUV does not necessarily provide greater protection in a collision; modern safety features that allow cars to crumple can more effectively reduce the force on occupants and lower the risk of injury.
Step-by-step explanation:
The heavy, sturdy construction of an SUV may seem to afford its occupants greater protection in a collision, but modern safety standards and physics suggest that the ability of a vehicle to crumple upon impact is actually more beneficial. The concept of impulse explains that safety features like airbags, padded dashboards, and crumple zones in cars are designed to increase the time of impact during a collision. This longer collision time results in a reduced force exerted on the occupants, significantly lowering the risk of injury. Conversely, although heavy construction might prevent vehicle deformation, it could also transmit more force to the occupants, increasing the likelihood of injuries.
In racing, for example, the replacement of rigid frames with parts that can crumple or collapse led to a dramatic decrease in fatalities during car races. Similarly, cars with plastic components and engineered crumple zones are designed to absorb impact energy, thus providing better protection than simply relying on a vehicle's weight or rigidity. An infamous example of misleading perceptions of safety was the 1980s Volvo advertisement where other cars' roofs were crushed by a monster truck while the reinforced Volvo's roof did not. What was not disclosed was the manipulation of vehicle conditions to exaggerate the sturdiness of the Volvo's construction, which led to the FTC's intervention.