Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 11:59:22 +0100 From: Andreas van der Wal <andreasnopsamnt.want.spam.cost.se> Subject: Re: Volvo vs. Saab Safety
> No but I have been a passenger in 2 car crashes that resulted in cars being > written off. In neither case did my head hit the dash the window or anything > else other than the head rest. On both occasions I got whiplash so the new > systems from SAAB and VOLVO to limit this are most welcome. Whiplash injuries suggest the cars you were in were hit from behind. In those cases the airbags (side and front) doesn't help you. When hit from the front or the side they might help. > BTW I have driven carts indoors and the force of the impact I have felt upon a > collision in one > of those is far greater than the rather limited impact I felt that resulted > in 2 cars being totalled. BTW2 as I remember NASA testing in the 60's showed > that the human body if properly held in place (i.e. by suitable harnesses) > can withstand impacts upto 20g. My point is that I would always want the car > to be strong first and foremost, getting my legs smashed by the dash is quite > a scary thought and it occurs to me that things like airbags have been > proliferated for several reasons that have little to do with safety. > 1) Americans will not wear seat bealts so if they then get propelled through the > windscreen who am I to care. I agree. An airbags can never ever be a substitue for the seatbelt. Peolpe thinking so could very well go without airbag as well since there is not much to protect anyway. Also european airbags are smaller than american which would lessen the risc of them actually hurt you. > 2) Most cars have the steering wheel far to > close to your body and it feels like your driving a bloody bus. I have seen both. Most old people and new drivers sit very close to the stearing wheel. Men in their mid 40:th usually sits to far away stearing with one hand, which might be good in case of an accident, but worse when trying to avoid one. > 3) Most cars seat belts seem to allow the body to travel far to far forward before > they restrain you. (at least both of the cars I was in that crashed). True, but also this could be helped by the passenger not wearing to thick sweaters, coats etc. > 4) Many modern cars have steeply angled windscreens which often means that when > you sit in the front your head is often no more than cm's from the corner of the > windscreen and roof. If you role the car an air bag will not save you! > Couldn't agree more. > > Admittedly air-bags can save lives and are maybe a worthwhile thing. However I > would much rather that all of the above be sorted first! > Thats my 10c worth! I will shut up now. > NJH > / Andreas > > -----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==---------- > http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
