A highway safety group says people are 25% less likely to be injured in a crash in a hybrid car, than in the non-hybrid version of that car.
Matt Moore is with the Highway Loss Data Institute. He says it’s possible people in the hybrid cars might be driving slower, to maximize their gas mileage.
But he thinks the explanation more likely involves simple physics, because the smaller and lighter vehicle in a crash will absorb most of the impact.
"Hybrids tend to be heavier," says Moore. "On average, they’re about 10% heavier than their non-hybrid counterparts, and we believe that extra weight gives them an advantage when they’re in crashes."
On the other hand, hybrids are not safer for pedestrians. Moore says hybrid cars are more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents than non-hybrid cars. That’s probably because hybrids that run in electric-only mode are very quiet, and people are more likely to walk out in front of them.
