I understand your point that modern vehicles are relatively safe, but after seeing the result of a semi truck taking out a pickup truck on the Interstate yesterday I am seriously considering my choice to drive a compact vehicle. I assume larger vehicles have larger/longer crumple zones compared to compact vehicles and that higher vehicles have less chance of going under other vehicles? Of course it's zero sum if everyone drives larger vehicles but I can't force the local authorities to invest in better public transportation so I don't even need to drive to work.
I agree your point. larger cars have great advantage in a crash due to crumple zones. And even though some compact cars has great crash test result, it doesn't mean they're safe enough to survive a highway crash since most if not all crash tests are done under 50mph.
BTW, just a reminder that pickup trucks are body-on-frame structure which is design for more towing capacity. Unibody structure on most modern cars and SUV's are safer in general. If you check this list http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/TSP-List you'll see pickup is worse than even compact cars in crash test.
If you want to minimize the effects of the impact with a semi then the only real option is another semi; a 1 ton car or a 3 ton car makes no difference being hit by a 40 ton truck, but the 1 ton car consumes much less fuel/energy.
It was hit from the side I think? The height of the pickup definitely made a difference because most of the cabin was sitting up on the median rather than squished into the barrier like the rest of the truck. Your point about the weight is a good one in most circumstances though!
Not to be a Debbie Downer - but about 5 years ago my two good friends were driving in a medium sized car in Brooklyn, when an Expedition crossed the double yellow going about 60 miles an hour and literally ran over the entire drivers side half of the car, flattening it.
The driver sadly died while the passenger went unscathed.
The next day, my Dad sold my sister's tiny, low-riding Saturn and got her a higher-riding CRV. I don't blame him, and now riding in low-sitting cars frightens me a tiny bit on the highways.
