Ethics of using shite as a daily....

[gallondrunk]

.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

I don't have the figures to hand but I believe during the 60's there were a fraction of the cars on the road and many times the number of road deaths compared to today. This is all down to safer cars.

 

It's not all down to safer cars. 1934: Around 2.5 million vehicles on the road. 2004: More than 30 million.

 

 

Drink driving used to be a much bigger problem. While driving drunk was always illegal, there wasn't a maximum blood alcohol level until 1967. The breathalyser followed shortly after, and along with anti drink driving campaigns reduced the number of alcohol related accidents. Although seatbelts had been fitted to cars for years (front belts required in new cars since 1967), as few as 40% of drivers routinely used them, rising to 90% after they became compulsory in 1983.

 

Crash barriers on fast roads reduced the number of vehicles crossing onto the other side of the road, better streetlighting, better driver training, tougher driving tests, and so on.

[gtd2000]

I'd expect a bit of statistical manipulation, there's probably far more traffic accidents but less fatalities overall due to increased use of safety devices in vehicles?

[Richard]

I'm glad I started my motoring experience on 2 wheels (well not if you count sneaking dad's car out now and again of course) and have a healthy respect for driving and being vulnerable.

 

I suspect the lack of two-wheeled experience is a major contributing factor in fatalities among younger drivers. It would be interesting to see the statistics following the introduction of CBT.

[gtd2000]

I'm glad I started my motoring experience on 2 wheels (well not if you count sneaking dad's car out now and again of course) and have a healthy respect for driving and being vulnerable.

 

I suspect the lack of two-wheeled experience is a major contributing factor in fatalities among younger drivers. It would be interesting to see the statistics following the introduction of CBT.

 

When I was a learner I took the Star Rider training. I can't really say that it helped or not but I'd probably give more credit to my dad for giving me good common sense pointers and reminders to "read the road" or "think ahead" as a youngster who was very interested in cars and bikes.

 

These days I'm more cynical and see the majority of these training courses as simple money makers...

 

When I was in Holland they discovered that people who had undertaken advanced driving courses actually had more accidents - simply because they were overly confident...

 

There was something similar regarding cycling helmets years back as well - certain safety equipment encourages a confidence factor that increases accident rates.

 

I know for a fact I would never have approached the speeds I used to on a motorcycle if I had not felt comfortable wearing a helmet

[Shep Shepherd]

If I had a family (I don't and never will, due to not being the marrying kind), I'd be quite happy for them to travel in either of the Volvos.

[Lankytim]

If I had a family (I don't and never will, due to not being the marrying kind), I'd be quite happy for them to travel in either of the Volvos.

 

I'd be happy with a big Volvo too! They do inspire alot of confidence behind the wheel and feel very solid.

[Shep Shepherd]

If I had a family (I don't and never will, due to not being the marrying kind), I'd be quite happy for them to travel in either of the Volvos.

 

I'd be happy with a big Volvo too! They do inspire alot of confidence behind the wheel and feel very solid.

 

One of the many reasons why I have been driving them for the best part of a decade

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Once you've seen that 5th gear thing where they crash a Volvo 940 into a Renault Modus the 'Big old car > small new car' argument goes right out the window.

 

I think I would be comfortable to drive my nippers round in an old car as long as they were belted in properly. Especially something like an Audi 100, which will have quite a lot of good safety features already - crumple zones/safety cell monocoque, padded dash and steering wheel, collapsible column, anti-burst locks and so on. OK there have been advances since it was built but its still pretty decent really.

[dollywobbler]

Isn't it now legal to have seatbelts for kids anyway, irrespective of vehicle age?

[Angrydicky]

Solution - don't have a crash. Problem solved!

[garethj]

Once you've seen that 5th gear thing where they crash a Volvo 940 into a Renault Modus the 'Big old car > small new car' argument goes right out the window.

That was for a crash the Volvo wasn’t good at but the Renault was. If it was a head on crash the Volvo would have done better but sadly you don’t know what kind of crash you’re going to have. If it was a knock from behind the results might have been reversed but Renault probably wouldn’t want to show that.

 

As said above, the only guaranteed way to be safe is not to crash.

Isn't it now legal to have seatbelts for kids anyway, irrespective of vehicle age?

No, if the car doesn’t have belts fitted, kids don’t have to wear them.

[seth]

Isn't it now legal to have seatbelts for kids anyway, irrespective of vehicle age?

No, if the car doesn’t have belts fitted, kids don’t have to wear them.

 

It is illegal for kids under three to ride in a car unrestrained so if you have a classic/vintage/veteran with no belts they are not legally allowed to go in it (I see babes in arms on the London-Brighton every year...)

[dollywobbler]

Thanks for the clarity Seth. As a non-parent, I'm not really up on that sort of legislation.

[barefoot]

Here's my bit;

 

The Audi 100 C3 was rallied for a bit & when criticized for racing such a big old barge Audi responded by saying that it was lightest in its class (or some such)

The Smart Roadster (& possibly the little fortwo thing) weigh more than a 1600cc Cortina 5

 

& according to "Unsafe at Any Speed" Ralph Nader

"its the third impact that will kill you'

Impact one - car into car

Impact two - your body into internals of car

Impact three - your internal organs slapping into ribcage/skull etc.

 

And my daily is a '79 VW T2

The engine is at the back, the front panel is about a 16th of an inch thick, the brakes are unassisted

and I often wonder whether I'd stand a better chance of survival sitting there with my foot on the pedal

or running into the back & hanging onto something.

[oman5]

I've used nothing but snotters for the last 15 years. after getting a huge financial hit on a nearly-new Granada Cosworth many years ago I swore off anything modern. My volvo 740 is a great every day car, and I have extreme reservations about "that" 5th gear crash test. have a look at this

 

These volvos have a built in safety cage to protect the occupants.They DON'T have traction control or any of the myriad of stuff modern cars have to convince the driver that they are the stig...all of which means you actually have to be able to drive properly, not looking no further than the end of your bonnet like so many do

[forddeliveryboy]

If you're interested in what feels safe then an old Volvo probably will be. If driving interests you then maybe not. Once saw a Citroen CX and Volvo 740 in a crash, the CX looked very bent but the occupants were alive and walking wounded, sadly the the firemen cut out two dead from the other car.

[Albert Ross]

Don't drive immaculate shite. Drive something that looks like it's been rescued from a scrapyard..... That way, nobody dares go near it!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Apart from the police.

[Albert Ross]

Nowadays that's not true. As long as the ANPR unit comes up with tax, insurance, MOT, and possibility of driver not being a Picasso driving maniac from Cumbria, then they leave you alone. You've seen what I drive? Looks like the last owner parked it in a shed for 10 years, after pushing it in with a bulldozer. Oh wait... they did.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

They don't have ANPR around here, except on the trunk roads.

[Albert Ross]

Of course, you're in the Peoples' Republic of Scotlandcestershire.... Where men are men, and so are the women. Here in darkest South Yorkshire, we have all the filming of the Traffic Cops series going on, and we get the tall one in at work buying bits to replace the ones they've knocked off in a chase. (Mirrors etc) ANPR is good really, because if you're doing nothing wrong, whatever you're driving, there's little chance of a tug (ooer missus). Only today, coming back from work, there was a V plate Volvo Estate pulled over by plod, looked clean and tidy, but for the documents I guess. I suppose your local officers go by gut instinct, and if you look a "wrong'un", there's no escape eh?