To the Editor:

When it comes to the opinion piece, “Light Cars Are Dangerous Cars,” [May 22], the headline is simply wrong.

First, one should not confuse vehicle size and weight as if they are one and the same and affect safety equally. They do not. It has been proven time and again that cars can be large, light and safe thanks to material selection and design expertise.

Second, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is on record as confirming light autos can be safe. When it previously issued sized-based safety standards, the regulatory agency noted that low weight, high strength, crash absorbent materials like aluminum can safely reduce vehicle weight while maintaining or even increasing size for greater crash protection.

Third, leading automakers including Honda, Ford, GM, Chrysler and many others have all stated that well-designed, lower weight vehicles can be safe and meet the toughest federal safety standards. They match their words with deeds as automotive aluminum use is at an all-time high (as a percentage of curb weight), with nearly four decades of steadily climbing use by automakers. Yet, today’s autos are safer than ever before. Even the steel industry is trying to catch up by working on lower weight automotive offerings.

Fourth, aluminum-intensive vehicles are among the safest on the road. The all-aluminum Audi A8, for example, is five-star safety rated. In fact, several years back, this very newspaper did an analysis listing it as perhaps the safest sedan on the road. The all-aluminum Jaguar XJ is 440 pounds lighter than its steel –bodied predecessor (boosting gas mileage and cutting emissions), yet longer, taller and wider – offering additional crush space. It also has among the best insurance ratings in its class.

Finally, it’s a mistake to view the future of the automobile through the rear-view mirror. From reducing our dependence on foreign oil, to cutting tailpipe emissions, to saving consumers money at the pump, a holistic solution comprised of safe and smart design, down weighting with materials substitution and advanced powertrains offers real-world solutions to today’s challenges. The road ahead promises cars and trucks that are lighter, cleaner, greener and, yes, safer.

Sincerely,
Randall Scheps
Chair, Auto & Light Truck Group
The Aluminum Association, Inc.