Compacts have a bad reputation in terms of safety. It's not really their fault: one of the big problems is that so many people are driving enormous cars today. When a lighter object gets hit or runs into a heavier object, it's just going to take more damage.

But carmakers have realized two things: that compact cars are coming back into style, thanks to their fuel economy, and that safety is the number one priority. Ever since SUVs came onto the market in huge numbers, compacts have had their safety features improved exponentially.

It’s a win-win: Not only can a safer car improve your chances of surviving a crash, but your car insurance company will give you discounts for each new, cool safety feature.

Even so, some smaller cars are safer than others: here are the top five that did the best, in no particular order.

	Scion xB   To give you an idea of just how tough the Scion xB actually is, federal standards require that a car be able to withstand 1.5 times its own weight if flipped onto its roof. The xB? It can take 6.8 times its own weight, according to government tests. Combined with stability and traction control, antilock brakes with brake assist, a highly-advanced airbag system, and even a first-aid kit (really), it's one of the safest cars in any class.
	Ford Focus The Focus has many safety features, but the most unique is its advanced airbags. The Focus uses a tethering system that pulls back parts of the bag slightly -- so instead of running into a wall that softens, you get less of an impact with all of the safety. In addition, the airbags are designed to adjust to the driver, protecting your head and neck...in more ways than one.
	Toyota Corolla The Corolla is the single best-selling compact in the USA, and it's also one of the safest. Toyota was among the first to build in “crumple zones”; areas of a car that would absorb and release the kinetic energy from a crash without that energy going into the cockpit of the car. Even better, the steering wheel absorbs energy as well: this keeps it from, say, smashing into you if you have a front-end accident.
	Kia Forte The Kia Forte comes with plenty of safety features standard, such as curtain side airbags and antilock brakes. But there are two features in particular that really stand out: the “reactive” headrests and the side impact door beams. The headrests are designed to support and protect your head if your car gets rear-ended: this is key because getting rear-ended can damage your back, neck and spine, and the headrest reduces those risks. The side impact door beams, meanwhile, keep the cabin from breaking or otherwise folding. In short, the Forte has you covered...from all directions.
	Honda Civic Honda takes safety seriously: by 2012, all new Civic models will have stability control, usually reserved for SUVs, standard. In addition, Honda has been using its thirty year history of building compact cars to design a special body structure that turns the Civic into a tank: it can withstand crashes with much larger cars. Civics are not only sporty: they will keep you safe on the road.

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com.

Image Credits:

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Here's the situation: your "little baby" is about to (or already has) turned 16. He or she is dreaming of the endless possibilities which come with a driver's license. Your teen may also start dropping extremely subtle hints about wanting a vehicle of his or her own. What’s a parent to do?

Now you have two options. You can either refuse your kid's request and force him or her to borrow the vehicle(s) that you already own. Then you're setting yourself up for years of begging for car keys, readjusting seat positions and radio stations, and discovering a plethora of items and substances in your vehicle's interior.

You probably don't want to know.

Or, you can acquire a vehicle and car insurance specifically for your new driver. Then you can liberate yourself from all of the abovementioned headaches and also control the situation a little better by picking out a car that is better suited for your teen.

If you select the second option, here are six features that your teenager's car should have.

1. Appropriate size. You want a car that is sturdy enough to hold its own in a collision, but you don't want to put your teen in a mammoth-sized vehicle which won't allow him or her to steer nimbly out of trouble. That's why a mid-size sedan is an excellent choice for a newbie driver.
2. Stellar crash test ratings. Before purchasing a vehicle, do some Internet research to see how it fared in federal crash tests. If the car in question is pre-owned, make sure to note its model year -- vehicles of similar make and model may perform differently in these tests from year to year.
3. Four-cylinder engine. Rookie drivers don't need more horsepower than that. Bigger and more powerful engines are likely to create more problems for your teen than they solve.
4. Front-wheel drive. Sure, rear-wheel drive can supply additional traction. But for a novice driver, it can also provide a false sense of security and promote faster driving. Front-wheel drive is perfectly adequate for most road conditions, and in instances where streets are hazardous, teens probably shouldn't be driving anyway.
5. Simple controls. You've sat in enough driver's seats to know that some vehicles are more "user-friendly" than others. Keeping cabin controls simple for your teenager can help reduce the odds of him or her becoming distracted while driving.
6. Safety features. Most late-model cars have airbags, but you should also look for vehicles which have anti-lock brakes as well, because new drivers tend to jam the brake pedal instead of pumping it. If possible, find a car with electronic stability control, which brakes each individual wheel if it senses the car is swerving or out of control.

Getting teenagers age-appropriate cars will help them improve their driving skills and encourage responsible road habits. Think of it this way: when your child was in diapers and learning to build or create things, you didn't buy him or her a Revell P-51D Mustang 1:48 scale model airplane kit. So why buy your teen a complex vehicle designed for advanced drivers now?

If you need car insurance, check out SafeAuto.com.