Small-time Thrills: Expert Warns of the Deadly Risks of Micro-Cars
- by Christian Hensen
- Curation: 2 Minutes
Fatal Incident Reported: Lethal Event Occurs, Claiming Lives - "Potentially hazardous": Experts caution users on the risks associated with mopeds.
The freedom to lease a new wheeled-wonder for under 100 euros or purchase one for fewer than 10,000 euros? Sure, why not, especially for teenagers jumping at the opportunity to pilot these micro-cars with a class AM license at age 15! Vehicles like the Opel Rocks-e, the identical Citroën Ami, or the Aixam Access fulfill this dream. These nifty light motorized contraptions come with added perks: a moped license plate will do just fine, and forget about car taxes!
Obviously, these micro-cars aren't all sunshine and rainbows - they're limited to 45 km/h, and electric electric versions have a range unsuitable for long hauls. But as city zipping devices, they might just tickle your fancy.
Authentic Alarm: Micro-Cars and Their Deadly Impact
According to "Auto Motor Sport," DEKRA recently conducted high-speed crash tests for the TV show "auto mobil - das Vox Automagazin," resulting in unsettling evidence. The specialized mag puts it bluntly: "Micro-cars like Ami and Rocks-e are lethal."
To substantiate their claim, two micro-cars collided head-on with a "deformable offset barrier" at 45 km/h, simulating a city accident.
"Auto Motor Sport" summarizes the consequences: "The impact exerted forces that would likely have resulted in the death of human passengers."
Death Traps Wheeled: A Close Look at the Dangers
The initial collision test involved an Aixam Access, the most commonly sold of its kind, spanning three meters and weighing 425 kilograms. The bottom line? "Although the passenger compartment of the Aixam barely deformed, the impact forces were enormous. The steering wheel, devoid of airbags, slammed into the dummy's head with full force!"
"Auto Motor Sport" further reports: "During the collision, the steering wheel unleashed 720 kilograms of force - a number well beyond safe limits."
Unsurprisingly, the diminutive Citroën Ami doesn't fare any better. Although the overwhelming impact on the passengers isn't immediately obvious, the car's inflexible frame can absorb none of the kinetic energy - resulting in significant impact for drivers and passengers.
The magazine predicts a grim outcome in scenarios involving such collisions.
Manufacturers Shrugging Off the Responsibility
The issue, as the report states, lies in the minimal safety requirements for light motor vehicles. The Ami, classified as a roller or S-Pedelec, adheres to the same safety regulations as two-wheelers, with structures as bare as a bonesy skeleton. Crucial safety components like ABS, airbags, or crash sensors are optional at best.
"Auto Motor Sport" presented the manufacturers with the results. While Stellantis, parent company of Opel, Citroën, and Fiat, argued the advantages of these micro-cars over others in their class, French manufacturer Aixam was more forthright in stating that light four-wheeled vehicles of the L6e type, due to their construction, cannot compete with traditional cars, and many modern safety technologies are simply "technically unfeasible."
- Wheeled-Wonder
- Adam Opel
- Automotive Adventure
- Citroën
- DEKRA
- Given the concerning results from DEKRA's high-speed crash tests, it might be wise for community and employment policies to consider implementing safety regulations for micro-cars like the Ami and Rocks-e, similar to conventional vehicles, in order to protect the health-and-wellness of drivers and passengers.
- As micro-cars like the Opel Rocks-e and Citroën Ami pose significant risks to safety, it would be prudent for these manufacturers to prioritize incorporating essential safety features, such as ABS, airbags, and crash sensors, within their employment policy and design to ensure fitness-and-exercise of their products align with the latest standards in science and safety.
