Children are no safer in sport-utility vehicles than in passenger cars, reports a new study from the medical journal Pediatrics. The journal released the findings of a study on Tuesday that finds that the increased risk of a rollover accident negates the potential safety of riding in a larger, heavier sport-ute. The study, compiled by State Farm Insurance and aPhiladelphia children's hospital, studied accidents involving about 4000 children. During the study period from the year 2000 to 2003, the study showed similar injury rates in SUVs and cars of about 1.7 percent. The SUVs' average weight advantage of 1300 pounds, the study reports, was negated by the higher rollover rate of the sport-utility vehicles. In rollovers, children were three times more likely to be severely injured.

With SUV registrations up 250 percent since 1995, the study's authors and participants told the AP they wanted to correct the perception that SUVs were inherently safer. An industry representative told the Associated Press that rollover rates are improving due to new technology and the migration of buyers from truck-based SUVs to car-based crossovers.