Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer Receive Worst Possible Rating in Passenger Side Crash Test

Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Explorer Receive Worst Possible Rating in Passenger Side Crash Test

As my avid blog followers are already aware, Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic has recently grown to five Baltimore area Chiropractic Clinics. Our locations now serve Baltimore City, Catonsville, Dundalk, and Glen Burnie. We have a total of nine chiropractors and countless other support staff to best serve your headache, neck pain, and back pain needs. It has been an exciting week launching the Dundalk and Glen Burnie locations and we are expecting the momentum of the first week to carry over to this week and beyond.

One of my favorite past times is studying the news and current events, particularly when it relates to auto accident injuries and car crash biomechanics. When I see news stories that cover these topics I usually pay really close attention. Just this past week I saw a story that I found interesting. The story detailed the crash test results for two very popular SUVs, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Ford Explorer.

The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) recently tested the top 8 selling SUVs and rated their crashworthiness in a “small overlap front crash test.” This means that the vehicles were accelerated to 40 mph and then struck a barrier head on, where the brunt of the impact was just off the passenger side front wheel. This is meant to mimic a vehicle striking a tree or pole, which is very common in cases of head-on impacts. IIHS found that the Ford Explorer’s passenger side crushed in more than a foot. This leads them to conclude that injuries to the right lower extremity and hip are likely for these impacts. Ford reported that it is a safe vehicle, but they mentioned that a newer updated version of the explorer will be released next year.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee faired even worse than the Explorer. The passenger’s head was found to go through the airbag and to strike the dashboard and the passenger side curtain airbag failed to deploy. For the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the head injuries are thought to be worse than the lower extremity injuries that would also be generated under these conditions.

Unfortunately for both the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokees, these cars performed only marginally better when the impact was tested on the driver’s side of the vehicle.

The reason I found this article interesting was because it seems that about half the cars on the roads in Baltimore are either Jeep Grand Cherokees or Ford Explorers. Americans love SUVs and especially with it being summer, I am seeing many more of them on the road lately. Most people tend to think of these SUVs and impenetrable tanks on the road. It gives the drivers and occupants a false sense of security on the road.

While I’m not suggesting you turn these vehicles in and get new ones if you happen to drive them, I am suggesting that you maintain awareness of your surroundings at all times and that you drive cautiously if you are operating or are a passenger in one of these vehicles.

If you, or someone you know, has suffered an injury as a result of a Baltimore, Catonsville, Dundalk, or Glen Burnie auto accident injury, please contact Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic at 443-842-5500. We will get you back on the road to recovery.

Dr. Gulitz