Considering the Smart. Is it safe on the freeway?

[lusso]

Hello everyone.

I've heard the pitch. Seen the steel cage. Read that it achieved the highest safety ratings. I driven the car. I like it.

But.

I live in LA. Most of my daily driving is on the freeway.

My question is:
Has anyone been in a real life crash in this car? How does it hold up? Should I consider another car if I'm planning to use this as a daily freeway driver?

Any feedback would certainly help my decision.
Thank you in advance.

~ Lusso

[Red_Zippy]

Originally Posted by lusso

Hello everyone.

I've heard the pitch. Seen the steel cage. Read that it achieved the highest safety ratings. I driven the car. I like it.

But.

I live in LA. Most of my daily driving is on the freeway.

My question is:
Has anyone been in a real life crash in this car? How does it hold up? Should I consider another car if I'm planning to use this as a daily freeway driver?

Any feedback would certainly help my decision.
Thank you in advance.

~ Lusso

Hi Lusso,

To be honest, we've had a similar discussion earlier this week. We believe the point is to avoid crashing into anything, if you can.

My roommate and I have had ours for a week. We took it on a merry little 60 mile round trip today. This thing can maneuver in ways that drivers of larger vehicles can only dream of.

It handled just as well at 50 mph as it does at slower speeds. I imagine it'll feel just as stable at freeway velocities.

The only thing I don't know is what it would feel like to have a semi whoosh on by. But hey, I've been buffeted by the gusts as a semi passed me in larger vehicles. It probably doesn't feel any different in a Smart.

[Duckhunter]

Have not been in an accident. Drive in manual mode and Smart will do as well as any car on the freeway. As far as safety it is safer than most cars, look at the ratings.

[AllBlackS42]

You asked specifically about real world crashing experiences; I can't give you any firsthand accounts, fortunately.

However, we have about 500 miles on the car since picking it up Monday night, about 400 of which have been interstate. Speed limit in WV is 70 mph and in PA it's 65 mph (although traffic flows 70+ mph in Pittsburgh). Tons of truck traffic on I70, so have experienced many miles of truck scenarios, including at night in the rain.

The windshield clears very easily and doesn't suffer from typical truck road spray blindness that plagues ever other car I've driven. I think b/c there is basically no hood so the airflow just blows the spray right off windshield.

I was pleasantly surprised at how stable the car is in truck wind turbulence. The body gets buffeted a bit, but the car continues to track dead straight. Much less of an effect than I was expecting based on the car's size and weight.

My biggest problem on the interstate has been people who slow down when passing me and then pace me for half a mile while they're checking out the car, all while expecting me to acknowledge them at 70 mph.

[forestacademy]

See safeandsmart.com: stories of survival from smart owners
Stories of true acidents with smarts as well as those that have been able to avoid them because of the smart's smarts

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by Red_Zippy

I've been buffeted by the gusts as a semi passed me in larger vehicles. It probably doesn't feel any different in a Smart.

That is my experience. If anything, the pressure wave from a big rig seems to have less effect on my smart than some other vehicles I've driven. Gusty crosswinds, now that's another matter. Blustery weather can be a little unnerving.

Everyone who has had a smart for a while has been asked, "Aren't you afraid of being hit by a big rig?" ... or some variation of that. It is pointless to argue about the smarts Tridion crash cage, 4 air bags, ESP, et al. When confronted with this question I just say, "YES! No matter what vehicle I'm driving!". I'm puzzled why so many people talk as if wrecks are something to plan for, as if inevitable. You've got a safe car in a smart, drive it safely, watch out for the other guy, that's about all you can do. If it's your destiny to have a wreck, I can think of a lot worse cars to have one in.

Afterthought. I've been driving for almost 40 years with no significant accident. Knock on wood.

[padi176715]

I have 4k miles on my Brabus. Took a trip from Dallas to Tucson and part of the way the speed limit is 80. This car was great. The trucks did not bother it on the highway and it handled the speeds just fine. I almost always drive in D. No only did it drive well on the tirp, the cost of the fuel was fantastic. Let the fun begin.

[mvaldes]

I drive mine on the Interstates in the NYC metro area every day to work (since last May). It handles the freeways very well, it just took me a week or two to get used to its feel. Fortunately, I've never had an accident in it, but, FWIW, I feel as safe as in my smart I did in my Audis, Mercedes, SAABs, etc.

[gstreetcomic]

Finally real artillery i can use for one of my naysaying friends who recently called my car a "death trap". i was impressed with the stories of some of these survivors and yes some of these folks were on the freeways. BTW i drive the beltway here in Northern Virginia almost everyday in my Smart and the interstates, and i have no fear on the open highway in my car what so ever.

Originally Posted by forestacademy

See safeandsmart.com: stories of survival from smart owners
Stories of true acidents with smarts as well as those that have been able to avoid them because of the smart's smarts

[BELJO]

The challenges of highway driving in and around the Richmond area are not the speeds or the passing trucks but the rough/pot holed road surfaces. The ride really gets rough and unconfortable at 65 mph! Thank goodness my daily commute to work is on local roads at 35-45 mph with reasonably smooth road surfaces. Under these circumstances my smart is a joy to drive!