Safety is a term that can be investigated in many ways. How safe your car is, is
primarily determined by how safely you drive it – and we recommend you give
your every attention and apply your level of skill and experience to be safe on
our roads.
QBE has identified that most vehicle
accidents, incidents and subsequent injuries in Australia are caused
by things such as inattention (including the use of mobile phones), alcohol and
drug use, fatigue, speed, vehicle maintenance and not wearing seatbelts.
We won’t be
considering issues such as rates of traffic incidents between various types of
vehicles, nor the rate of injury or death from various vehicle types. Instead,
we will specifically explore whether a 4WD is safer than a 2WD.
This largely relates to the differences in the key features between a 4WD and 2WD and the resulting impact the safety of the vehicle.
A 4WD
provides greater traction on the road due to the fact that all 4 wheels (when
engaged) are driving the vehicle. This is particularly important on gravel
roads and in tough road conditions. The only exception here is in slippery ice
situations, in which case a 4WD will not add many benefits over a 2WD from a
safety perspective.
Under normal
driving conditions, providing the vehicle is being driven sensibly and is in
good condition (including 4WD tyres and tyre pressure), there really is very
little difference in the safety of a 4WD over a 2WD. In fact, the sheer
weight of typically heavier 4WD vehicles could even be detrimental in some
circumstances.
Of course,
as 4WD lovers, we think it’s great that more people have 4WD vehicles and get
off-road every now and again to explore the great outdoors. THIS is where our
trusty 4WD tyres and rigs come into their own, both practically and from a
safety perspective.
There is no
doubt that a 4WD in off-road conditions will have the safety edge over a 2WD,
especially if you’re rocking 4WD tyres like mud terrains. The extra the traction that is gained from having all four wheels driving power to the ground
means that when one or more wheels is not in good contact with the road
surface, the others will be doing some of the work.
Also, if you
have a roo bar fitted to the front of your 4WD, and hit a stray animal at
moderate speeds, the impact is unlikely to cause too much damage to your
vehicle and thus you will often be able to continue on your way. A 2WD,
on the other hand, could be damaged to the point of not being driveable!
Regardless
of whether you’re driving a 4WD or a 2WD, to give us all the best chance of
staying safe on our roads, everyone needs to remind themselves to:
·
stay attentive and aware
·
travel at a comfortable speed
·
be courteous
·
have a break if you’re tired
·
don’t get behind the wheel if you’re under the
influence of alcohol or drugs
If you need
any more persuasion to be safe on our roads, check out these WA Road Safety Council stats.
We always love
hearing from our loyal visitors – do you think a 4WD is safer than a 2WD? Leave
us a comment if you have any thoughts about the different safety features
between a 4WD and 2WD vehicle.
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