Do we really need all that safety stuff?

[Cd]

Is it possible to add some of those safety features to my old car ?
I nearly rammed the gal next to me because she was in my blind spot.
I'd like to have blind spot sensors on my car.

[2000mc]

Originally Posted by Cd

Is it possible to add some of those safety features to my old car ?
I nearly rammed the gal next to me because she was in my blind spot.
I'd like to have blind spot sensors on my car.

$5 Amazon.com: Custom Accessories 71121 2" Blind Spot Mirror, (Twin Pack): Automotive


or $150 http://www.amazon.com/Myron-Davis-BS...nd+spot+sensor

i wouldnt think the ultrasonic sensors would work so well at speed, but then i can hear my tire noise more when i drive past something. gm oe systems use actual radar though

[bschloop]

Found a study that seems sound. It seems that you are technically "safer" in the average SUV than in the average economy car, but midsize and larger cars are "safer" than SUVs. The big difference is that an SUV is much more likely to kill the person in the other vehicle. Oh, and pickup trucks are death traps. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc...0.1.1.186.5839 you have to download the entire

[bschloop]

... Paper on pdf

[2000mc]

theres this Death rates fall as vehicles improve
but at the end of the page, i see the Ford Crown Victoria, appears in the LOWEST rates of driver deaths chart.
meanwhile i see the Mercury Grand Marquis, making an appearance in the HIGHEST rates of driver deaths chart.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by bschloop

Found a study that seems sound. It seems that you are technically "safer" in the average SUV than in the average economy car, but midsize and larger cars are "safer" than SUVs. The big difference is that an SUV is much more likely to kill the person in the other vehicle. Oh, and pickup trucks are death traps. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc...0.1.1.186.5839 you have to download the entire

The data is approaching 20 years old but interesting non-the-less. Looks like trucks and suv's are safer in 2 vehicle crashes (study does not consider who is at-fault) and more likely to kill the driver of the car.

Considering how trucks performed so poorly in this study i think it is due to the way trucks are used and the author describes that.

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by 2000mc

theres this Death rates fall as vehicles improve
but at the end of the page, i see the Ford Crown Victoria, appears in the LOWEST rates of driver deaths chart.
meanwhile i see the Mercury Grand Marquis, making an appearance in the HIGHEST rates of driver deaths chart.

The data is probably skewed by all the police crown vic's.

[2000mc]

...likely story, ok how 'bout gmc yukon in the safe list, and the suburban in the kill list


ok nevermind, heres a more relevant iihs page http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/ve...enger-vehicles

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Arragonis

So what ones would you choose to get rid of, and why ?

I'd probably get rid of the airbags, and either removing the seatbelts completely or just replacing the 3-point ones with lap-belts, not just to save a few ounces but also because I never cared for airbags, and the interior trim can provide some impact absorption in a way kinda similar to the approach taken in American school buses. Sure it may initially sound kinda pointless since I was complaining about the weight of safety features but, instead of making the interior trims just fancy, some degree of functionality could be added to them. As a matter of priorities I'd rather have ABS brakes instead of airbags and 3-point seatbelts.

[The Other Andy]

Curious, why the dislike for 3-point belts? Is it just a comfort thing?