According to a noted automotive engineer, Ford Escape Hybrids used as Taxis in New York City are unsafe. A report by C. Bruce Gambardella says that collisions and rollovers involving 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid Taxis often end with driver hospitalization and a total loss of the vehicle.
Several accidents, including a serious rollover, were explored in the report which was presented to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The report was requested in light of growing incidences of hybrid taxi rollovers and total vehicle losses.
The Ford Escape Hybrid receives only a three-star rollover resistance rating from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), compared to a five-star rating on another popular taxi model, the Crown Victoria.
Taxi owners and drivers in New York face the prospect of a citywide hybrid taxi mandate that was scheduled to take effect this month. It would force purpose-built stretch Crown Victorias out of service and require owners to drive Ford Escape Hybrids and other unproven vehicles. The mandate was delayed, as it's presently going through the legal system.
After analyzing the vehicles and studying the rollover accident scene, Gambardella concluded that if a Ford Crown Victoria had been involved in the same type of accident, it would likely have been a simpler fender-bender.
"In all my work as an accident reconstruction expert over the past 26 years, I cannot recall a single case where a Crown Victoria or a Crown Victoria-like vehicle has rolled over in a vehicle-to-vehicle crash," said C. Bruce Gambardella, P.E. before the New York City Council. "The Ford Escape Hybrid is more likely to roll over than the Ford Crown Victoria" he added.
Gambardella attributes the rollover tendency to the Escape's higher centre of gravity, and also claims that the road conditions in New York City could help 'trip' the machine into a rollover.
photo:Ford
Several accidents, including a serious rollover, were explored in the report which was presented to the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The report was requested in light of growing incidences of hybrid taxi rollovers and total vehicle losses.
The Ford Escape Hybrid receives only a three-star rollover resistance rating from the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), compared to a five-star rating on another popular taxi model, the Crown Victoria.
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| 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid |
Taxi owners and drivers in New York face the prospect of a citywide hybrid taxi mandate that was scheduled to take effect this month. It would force purpose-built stretch Crown Victorias out of service and require owners to drive Ford Escape Hybrids and other unproven vehicles. The mandate was delayed, as it's presently going through the legal system.
After analyzing the vehicles and studying the rollover accident scene, Gambardella concluded that if a Ford Crown Victoria had been involved in the same type of accident, it would likely have been a simpler fender-bender.
"In all my work as an accident reconstruction expert over the past 26 years, I cannot recall a single case where a Crown Victoria or a Crown Victoria-like vehicle has rolled over in a vehicle-to-vehicle crash," said C. Bruce Gambardella, P.E. before the New York City Council. "The Ford Escape Hybrid is more likely to roll over than the Ford Crown Victoria" he added.
Gambardella attributes the rollover tendency to the Escape's higher centre of gravity, and also claims that the road conditions in New York City could help 'trip' the machine into a rollover.
photo:Ford