by Richard Craig
14 June 2011
Light-hearted reports in the national press today reveal that three-wheeled cars are statistically the safest in the country, despite the obvious disadvantage of having 25% less grip than their counterparts with a full complement of tyres.
While Jeremy Clarkson memorably rolled a Reliant Robin on a recent episode of Top Gear every time he negotiated a corner, the figures cannot be refuted; three-wheeled cars are the subject of fewer car crash claims than vehicles with either one more or one less wheel.
Part of the reason for this is undoubtedly the fact that Robins and other three-wheeled vehicles, such as the Regal Supervan famously featured in BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, tend to only be driven only occasionally. The rest of the time, presumably, they remain safely ensconced in the garage where they are significantly less likely to be involved any altercations.
Reliant cars, an enduring symbol of British eccentricity, were produced in Tamworth, Staffordshire using fibreglass body panels, meaning they are not prone to the corrosions issues that plague other British cars of the era. In addition, their light weight and unusual wheel layout means that only a motorcycle license is required to drive one.