GatesDavid@aol.com wrote:
>
> A "modern" car is actually designed to be destroyed in an accident. The front
> and rear of the car are intended to smash in and act as a giant shock absorber
> thus sacrificing the car and saving the people. This is called the crumple
> zone for obvious reasons. Older cars were built with the idea that the more
> rigid the car is, the safer it would be. Hey, if the car survived, so would
> the people. In fact what happens is the car comes to a very sudden stop (no
> shock absorption) and the passengers fly forward. The car may survive with
> minimal damage but the passengers could suffer far worse injuries than the
> newer car that is now totaled.
>
> David Gates
> '73 Spitfire 1500 (rigid, but love it anyway)
> Hawaii
>
> In a message dated 98-07-31 21:10:07 EDT, you write:
>
> > This whole safety issue hit home yesterday when I was driving home. As
> > I started around a bend in the road, I noticed all sorts of flares
> > burning on both sides of the road. As I rounded the bend, I saw the
> > rear of a chrome bumper MGB on one side and the front of some
> > nondescript modern car on the other. The modern car's bumper and grill
> > were well caved-in. As I passed the MGB, I noticed that very little
> > damage had occurred to it even though the accident was obviously a
> > head-on.
> >
> > So, I must conclude that although safety standards have been updated in
> > recent years, the cars are not necessarily any stronger because of it.
I am glad to see that this thread has been started. Last Wednesday
7/29, I totaled out my 74 Spit in an crash at a local intersection (only
5 days since I was at VTR in Hudson). Both vehicles involved in the
crash were in pretty bad shape. The Frame and Bonnet on the Spit were
completely destroyed. I believe that if the accident involved a heaver,
stiffer framed vehicle (such as my 98 F150) the Other vehicle would most
certainly have sustained much greater damage. As it turns out, nobody
was injured in the slightest way. I will greatly sacrifice any
automobile for the safety and security of me or my passengers.
BTW, I have seen crash videos from the 60's and 70's. I truly believe
that car and trucks are much safer due to crumple zones and energy
absorbing designs. Just watch a CART Indy car hit the wall at over 200
MPH and tell me that if the car had remained in 1 piece that the driver
would have as well...
--
Patrick Barber
74 Spitfire 1500 (FM14774U)
"Go Red Wings" ... 1998 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
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