Crash safety ratings are similar. Change the offset or angle parameters 15% and you could get a large difference in results because the design engineers optimize the car for the tests, not for crashes
So test numbers make for comparison at best, not real-world results under all circumstances.
When I was sub-meter in height, the US gasoline dealership "Mobil" used to do real-world "economy runs" every year of many of each years new car models. Each car was driven on real-world roads across America by several different people with hills, curves, rain and dry plus whatever wind happened to be present. And most important, they drove fairly 'normally' instead of doing everything possible to save fuel
Whereas US car manufacturers once supported this, they began backing away when it became clear that their cars weren't improving in fuel mileage each year and the increasingly common imports could beat the US cars by a huge margin The important thing here is that anybody could match their numbers- something which is almost impossible to do with today's EPA numbers
Airlines discovered long ago that letting the computers fly the plane reduced fuel costs significantly, and with fuel being their largest ongoing expense that made for better profits. Nowadays pilots are not allowed to 'hand-fly' without an over-riding reason to do so.
The computers are programmed to maximize efficiency and they cannot be beaten at their game. This is the approach car makers should be taking but instead an artificial test is applied and it can be artificially cheated on
I don't know what "the book" says now, but when I was licensed it was the law that you held the footbrake firmly while stopped in traffic; the parking brake was for parking only. It makes good sense on several counts
First is that it keeps your brake lights on so that others can more easily see that you are stopped. Second it allows instant reaction should you suddenly need to move. Third is that it is holding 4 wheels, not 2, so that if someone hits you from behind it will take twice the force to move your car which also protects others around you. I'm sure other reasons could be found but my last one should be enough on it's own:
using the handbrake in traffic is less safe
I do wish they would teach left-foot braking which is what professional drivers and law enforcement drivers are taught as it allows much better vehicle control and allows for much quicker braking. When I'm in traffic, my left foot is hovering over the brake, heel on the floor and no contact with the pedal- it's become natural to me. That quarter-second time gained has saved my hide numerous times when some idiot jumped in front of me and braked suddenly to make a turn
I can also accelerate more quickly this way too. You lose that advantage with a manual trans
Fuel mileage and comfort matters but safety always comes first
Phil