It's widely known that hybrid cars can help drivers save money at the pump, but the fuel-efficient vehicles may also help prevent them from getting in an accident. A recent study from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) found that drivers of hybrid cars are 25 percent less likely to be injured in an accident than other motorists on the road, The Detroit News reports.<\/p>\n
There are a number of factors going into how the researchers arrived at the figures. Specifically, scientists say that it may depend largely on the thought process of a hybrid driver. Most people behind the wheel of a hybrid car are trying to get the most mileage possible and tend to drive more carefully.<\/p>\n
Driving habits may have something to do with it, but the construction hybrid cars were also a factor. According to the newspaper, most hybrid models are heavier than their normal counterparts. For example, a hybrid Accord weighs about 480 pounds less than a traditional Accord.<\/p>\n
"Weight is a big factor," said Matt Moore, the HLDI vice president and author of the report. "This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes that their conventional twins don't have."<\/p>\n
Though the study found hybrid drivers are less likely to be injured, it also found that they are 20 percent more likely to be involved in a crash with a pedestrian due to the vehicles' quiet engines.<\/p>\n