In a message dated 96-01-04 09:52:21 EST, you write:

>Click and Clack (the Car Talk guys) railed on a woman about the dangers
>of driving her '76 Westy (tippy, no side impact protection -- suggested
>she wear a footbal helmet).  Anyway, I've heard that the Vanagons are quite
>safe.  Does anyone have real stats on this?  Vehicle deaths per mile?
>Or Insurance company type of data?
>
>Tom

Tom,
I recall clearly that figures published in about 1990 or 1991 ashowed that
the Vanagon had the second LOWEST fatalities/mile driven figure in the USA.
 Only bettered by the Volvo 240 Wagon.  I don't know who's figures these
were.  They did come either from the Fed Govt or an insurer's coalition.  

Jim Davis
87 Syncro
88 Wolfsburg