NU Online News Service, Nov. 17, 12:52 p.m.EDT

Due in part to their heavier weight compared to their standardcounterparts, hybrids have a safety edge over their conventionaltwins when it comes to crashes, according to the Highway Loss DataInstitute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute forHighway Safety (IIHS).

In its study, HLDI analyzed more than 25 hybrid and conventionalvehicle pairs made from 2003 to 2011, with at least one collisionclaim and at least one related injury claim filed under personalinjury protection or medical payment (MedPay) coverage from 2002 to2010.

HDLI finds that injury odds were 27 percent lower for hybridsfor collision claims with a related PIP claim and 25 percent lowerfor collision claims with a related MedPay claim.

“Weight is a big factor,” says Matt Moore, author of the reportand HLDI vice president. “Hybrids on average are 10 percent heavierthan their standard counterparts. This extra mass gives them anadvantage in crashes that their conventional twins don't have.”

Other factors Moore cites include how, when and by whom hybridsare typically driven, although HLDI notes that researchers includedcontrols to reduce the impact of those factors on the study.

A separate HLDI analysis shows hybrids could be as much as 20percent more likely to be involved in pedestrian crashes withinjuries than their standard counterparts. Speaking to the possiblereasons, Moore says, “When hybrids operate in electric-only mode,pedestrians can't hear them approaching, so they might step outinto the roadway without checking first to see what's coming.”