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On my 9000, I drive with my hands at 9-3 or 10-2. I agree, for people used to the top positions, 8-4 is kinda awkward. Having said that, to tell the truth, lot of times, I drive with one hand on 12, 6, or some other positions, because cruising on the highway (which I do more than 1 hour each day), I forget that there is an airbag.
So another perspective is, I'd shut off the airbag, if possible. I've done this to my '90 SPG (replaced with Momo wheel). Airbag's major purpose is to minimize chest/facial injury to a unbelted person. (I work for a company that makes steering columns. You should see the crash dummys flying off when they are unbelted, ouch!). Actually for a belted passenger, airbag doesn't do a whole lot (other than save you from broken nose or cracked teeth). It's the seatbelts that does most of the saving. (I ALWAYS wear seat belt). So next chance I get, I might disable the airbag on my 9000. I've heard of more nuisance injuries caused by airbag going off than airbags actually saving lives (of course, when the driver has seat belt on).
Another point to consider... In a frontal crash, there is more and more occurance of foot injuries, from floor pan collapsing into the cabin when the engine slams into the firewall. Foot injuries wreak havoc on person's livelihood and insurance costs. There are lot of small bones in the foot (tough to work on), and foot is where there is least blood circulation (longer to heal). The cars nowadays have very little room for the engine to move during crash. Some OEM's have designed breakaway engine mounts, so the engine/tranny will just drop. But guess where the engine gets shuved to when the front crumples? right to the floor pan. Floor pan is not that strong and I've heard that this can be same affect as stepping on a land mine. OEM's spend a lot of time strengthening cross car beam, (where the dash mounts to), because their focus is saving lives (reduce chest and head injuries). And lot of times floor pans are after thoughts and are not so strong (you've heard of rusted through floor pans). In all the crash test simlations that I've been to, I've never seen a crash dummy that measures foot injuries. So what I do is, when I can remember, I put the car on cruise and bring both feet closer to the seat, instead of stretching my legs.
Sorry this is long. Another perspective to think about in terms of safety. I'd rather suffer a broken nose than a broken thumb (Of course, this is because I don't make living off my good looks). But above all, I'll be very upset if I had to spend 6 months recovering from foot injuries
James from Michigan... Happy Friday
posted by 12.47.22...
, Fri, 29 Oct 2004 15:51:12, Fri, 29 Oct 2004 15:58:27
, Fri, 29 Oct 2004 06:51:47, Fri, 29 Oct 2004 08:18:25
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