Jeep Rollovers

Jeeps are known for having soft roof structures, as the popular, advertised as "off-road capable vehicle" is known to rollover under extreme circumstances. While some models, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, come with solid roofs, not removable soft tops, their structure is still not strong enough to sustain forces needed to save lives.

Deseret News (2006) -
"Two women were in critical condition Sunday after the Jeep they were riding in rolled numerous times."

"The driver was ejected from the vehicle, but the passenger, who was wearing a seat belt, was still in her seat when an officer discovered the vehicle resting upside down. The vehicle was headed south on 7200 West when it ran off the side of the road."

The leading cause of death in SUV accidents is rollovers. Because of the speed involved in the accidents, untested environments, such as uneven or slick surfaces and the actual design of the vehicles themselves, crash and rollover tests do not meet real world circumstances. The current standards are simply not enough to replicate what happens on the highways that we drive on.

Faulty design is a leading contributor to rollover accidents, some even single car accidents. Here's a list of some safety issues that are common with SUVs, trucks and vans:

• Weak roof structure - does not prevent roof crush - allows driver/passenger ejection
• High center of gravity
• Faulty Seat Belts
• Seat back failures
• Narrow wheelbase
• Top heavy design with high center of gravity
• Weak window glass that allows driver/passenger ejection