Riding an unprecedented wave of popularity over the last decade, SUVs and other light trucks have risen to outsell passenger cars. Where passenger cars sales have been flat to lower, SUV sales have risen every year since 1991.

  SUV accident deaths are higher than any other type. Though deaths have declined, SUVs are still the most hazardous type.

  Contrary to the perception that SUVs are safe family cars, people die more often in accidents that involve SUVs. Rollover accidents prove fatal to occupants 35% of the time, as compared to 16% of the time in passenger cars.

  The second car in an accident with an SUV is exposed to enormous fatality risk, likely to result in fatalities four times as often.

  According to governmental data, between 1995 - 1999, 253,000 light vehicles were towed from a rollover crash each year (on average) and 27,000 occupants of these vehicles were seriously injured.

  Estimated risk of rollovers differs by vehicle type: 13% of cars, 14% of vans, compared to 24% of pick-up trucks and 32% of SUVs.