Small City Vehicles Under Scrutiny: Are Mini-Cars Lethal?
- Author: Christian Hensen
- Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
Deadly force or substance causing death - "Dangerous Warnings": Professionals Advise Caution on Moped Use
Imagine cruising the city streets in a brand new vehicle of your own for just under a hundred euros a month or less than 10,000 euros upfront. Sounds appealing, especially to teenagers who can hit the road at 15 with a class AM license, right? That's exactly what tiny cars like the Opel Rocks-e, the nearly identical Citroën Ami, or vehicles such as the Aixam Access offer. Oh, and did we mention their moped license plates and minimal car taxes?
But these micro-cars certainly aren't perfect — they're restricted by law to a measly 45 km/h and, if electric, their limited range makes long trips virtually impossible. However, for zipping around town, they could be quite appealing.
Auto Motor Sport Slams Micro-Cars as "Deadly"
You might think these cute little vehicles would be just fine, right? Not so fast! As "Auto Motor Sport" discovered, Dekra, the trusted vehicle testing organization, conducted some surprising crash tests commissioned by Vox's "auto mobil" TV show. The verdict? "Micro-cars like Ami and Rocks-e are deadly."
To simulate a city collision, these tiny vehicles were smashed into a deformable offset barrier at 45 km/h — a speed that's frighteningly similar to a head-on crash with another car.
"Auto Motor Sport" delivers the harsh truth: "These tests showed shocking results, with loads on the dummies that would likely have resulted in death for human passengers."
Micro-Car Drivers Exposed to Fatal Forces in Crashes
The Aixam Access, the most frequently sold micro-car in its class, was the first guinea pig. Despite the passenger compartment remaining relatively undamaged, the interior saw considerable force. The airbag-less steering wheel, for instance, punched the dummy's head with lethal force.
"Auto Motor Sport" warns that a staggering 720 kilograms of force acted upon the dummy's head — which is way over the legal limit of 80 g. Sadly, these levels can already pose a serious threat to some individuals.
The Citroën Ami fared no better; though the aftermath of an impact may not seem immediately dangerous to the naked eye, the vehicle's inflexible frame fails to absorb any kinetic energy like a robust crumple zone. The end result? A significant jolt for both driver and passenger.
"Auto Motor Sport" predicts that such impacts would likely lead to a fatal outcome for someone behind the wheel. The culprit? The "extreme forces" exerted on the neck vertebrae.
When presented with the damning results, the car manufacturers offered mixed responses. Opel, Citroën, and Fiat's parent company, Stellantis, focused on the advantages these micro-cars have over other vehicles in their class. Aixam, however, took a more candid approach. According to them, small four-wheeled vehicles of the L6e category simply cannot compete with passenger cars due to their design, and many modern safety technologies are "technically not feasible."
So, should you take the plunge and hit the road in one of these pint-sized vehicles, or are they just ticking timebombs waiting to go off? It's up to you to decide. But remember, safety should always be your top priority.
Community policy should address the concerns of micro-car safety, particularly when it comes to the health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise of citizens using these vehicles. The science behind the recent findings of "Auto Motor Sport" reveals that micro-cars like the Opel Rocks-e, Citroën Ami, and Aixam Access are a potential risk due to their inability to absorb kinetic energy during impacts, exposing the occupants to fatal forces in crashes. Employment policies should prioritize the safety of workers in the automotive industry, ensuring the development of vehicles that meet high safety standards, and education on health-and-wellness and fitness-and-exercise practices should be encouraged to help prepare drivers for emergency situations involving micro-cars.
