Front engine safer than rear?

[peterbredde]

Driving home from work last night and I am met with 911 approaching on the wrong side of the road while overtaking. No real danger and no drama - but it got me thinking? In general, who comes off better in an accident, the guy in the front engine car, or the guy in the rear/mid engine car (assuming similar size etc). Surely you'd be better off in a front engine car with all that mass to absorb the impact? Or is the existence of the engine in front of the driver a hazard? Or is the whole thing much more complex than that?

[peterbredde]

John D. said:

In a 911 you are more likely to enter a hedge backwards. Fact.

Agreed, but is that the same thing as me driving my front engine car forwards into a hedge? Perhaps its safer, as the seats would absorb my body weight rather than some reinforced canvas strap across my chest. And I'd go down smiling.