Is it reckless for you to buy a very small car?

Clark used to drive a 3-wheeled car made of fiberglass. If he got hit by a bicycle, he would have probably been in trouble! That was back in 1979 when car safety wasn't a top issue on people's minds.

Today, however, cars and roads are so much safer. Vehicles routinely have side-curtain airbags, ABS brakes, adaptive cruise control and more.

But you can't defeat physics. Clark now drives a Toyota Scion that would be crushed by an SUV in an accident.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) has released new safety findings on small cars. Your typical small car has a good rating in front-impact crashes, but a very poor rating when it comes to rear-impact crashes.

One small vehicle that was singled out for good rear-crash protection? The Toyota Corolla. The Mitsubishi Lancer and the Honda Civic (4 door) were also mentioned as top choices. Other vehicles that got positive reviews were the new Toyota Scion, the Subaru Impreza and the VW Rabbit (4 door).

In addition, the IIHS' report also highlights the importance of electronic stability control. From his own experience, Clark also recommends paying extra for this feature.

Finally, one small vehicle to stay away from when it comes to safety is the PT Cruiser.