Many of us presume that any modern vehicle will be safe in the event of a crash. After all, the use of modern seat belts, air bags, and crumple zones makes cars safer than they ever were before. Even small, light cars, such as the Smart, New Mini, or New Beetle, have been cited and praised for advanced engineering and safety. The ability of these cars to withstand high-speed crashes has been demonstrated repeatedly in the field and in tests by the Insurance Institute.