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Originally Posted by sudszy
Okay, I get what each is saying now. Gecko, did you take in the numbers that I provided for you in this post: http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...7&postcount=87however, that was never the answer to the question being asked “which was what effect does vehicle mass have in an accident”, not what effect mass or lack has in helping avoid an accident.
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I think the simplest answer to that is, the more mass involved the greater the amount of energy released. Energy can't just be removed, it has to transfer. In the case of a car crash it can transfer through the car or the people in the car. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the car into thermal and acoustical energy. What makes the difference from a safety aspect is how easily the car manages this process. The more kinetic energy the car uses to create heat and noise, the less energy transference occurs through you.
So in a single vehicle accident, and forgetting about dynamic safety strategies, the heavier car will be less safe than a small car with the same level of energy dispersion.