Are four wheel drive vehicles better because they're safer?

[DifferentPointofView]

those things actually work though. since those cars are designed to drive over 100mph on gravel doing tighter turns than I'll ever take. all in a 4 cylinder. kinda like an Evo. I personally like the Evo better though.

[zjrog]

But you know most folks won't drive it how they were intended...

[LostCause]

Originally Posted by zjrog

But you know most folks won't drive it how they were intended...

...and look what happens when they do.

Originally Posted by zjrog

I've never driven with stability control. But I see it will mandatory sometime soon on all new cars. Great. Bad drivers will get away with stupid stunts and think they know what they are doing.

I think it was someone on this forum that made a great comment over that. There was a Volvo commercial awhile back where a braking avoidance alarm was being touted. How did the feature come in handy? An honest emergency? The driver was on her cell phone slouched over the passenger seat looking for something she dropped.

"Volvo, we're safe so you don't have to be."

- LostCause

[DifferentPointofView]

yea, kinda makes you think, but it is true, A LOT of the US drives like that. Woops, dropped something. I think I'll stop driving, but keep the car moving to go find it and pick it up cause I'm not gonna use it until I get out of the car

[dremd]

I've been rear ended 4 times and 2 times by Subaru's (neither drunk) both claimed that I just stoped faster than they possibly could.

[cbergeron]

Dremd: They were following too closely. Period.
The law is cut and dry on that. If they can't stop in time, they were too close. It's a very basic law and it's on your side!

[dremd]

Yeah, I know, just funny.

(Note that Subaru's are SUPER rare here nearest dealer is 140 miles, no snow etc)

I'd have to say that if I was going to try and pull data from those experiences;
It would be that those drivers were given some false sense of security, either that or they don't pay attention, and drive AWD's because they are "better" . . .. . .

I know it's a stretch.


Edit: I'd like to say that They appear to take frontal impacts very well (damage wise). And Yes both accidents were decided in my favor.

[LostCause]

Originally Posted by cbergeron

Dremd: They were following too closely. Period.
The law is cut and dry on that. If they can't stop in time, they were too close. It's a very basic law and it's on your side!

I remember hearing on the news awhile back how some people were abusing the concreteness of the law.

People in SUV's (for safety, I'm assuming) would swerve in front of big rigs on the highway and slam on their brake. Obviously, big rigs can't slow down very fast so they rear-ended the crooks in front of them. Since courts almost unanimously decide if favor of those rear-ended, the truckers had to pay.

Generally, rear-end accidents are caused by tailgaiting...but I wouldn't say it's cut and dry.

- LostCause

[Bror Jace]

Wow, I'm pretty surprised at the tone of this thread.

I'd have thought by now that someone would make this simple point:

4/AWD is vastly oversold ... in North America and around the world.

Having all wheels turning with power is useful for only one thing: Acceleration. Now, this is essential if you are going off-roading ... and useful climbing slippery hills and driveways, if you drop a wheel off the edge of the road or are stuck in a snow drift.

But that's about it.

You see people in 4/AWD driving fast on the highway in a snow storm and they are just idiots. 4/AWD won't help yopu steer or stop ... and this is what people (often women) fear about bad weather. You also see people who would be frightened driving a $20,000 car in bad weather ... now driving a $35,000 SUV ... and they are positively terrified (all the while getting 17mpg). This is progress?

Like someone here said, for the most part, it gives some people the illusion of security ... and people with marginal skills who should probably stay home on bad days are tempted to go out on the roads ... and I think this is what the accidents statistics reflect.

The high center of gravity of SUVs is just gravy on top of the stats.

Want to navigate roads better in bad weather? Simple: buy snow tires and swap them on seasonally. I have for years.

[Nerys]

All things being correctly equal 4wd is almost 100% of the time safer than 2wd but this comes with some CONDITIONS.

IE if you DRIVE a 2wd like a 2wd and a 4wd like a 4wd you ARE usually safer. if you drive a heavy or high riding 4wd like a low riding 2wd its much much LESS safer than the 2wd. see what I mean?

also remember ALL cars have 4 wheel brakes. the ONLY major difference with 4wd is you now also POWER all 4 wheels so you can GO better/faster in adverse condition but you can NEVER stop better. Remember SAME 4 wheel brakes.

in fact all other conditions being equal 4wd is WORSE at stopping because they are in most cases heavier than there counterpart 2wd vehicles.

I have had 4wd save my bacon. I was at a downhill sloping light and I happened to glance in the mirror the sight of an old LTD coming down the hill sideways. I cranked the wheel pop the curb up onto the embankment and watched as the car slid harmlessly by. Thankfully he also slid to a harmless stop. He was not even doing anything wrong. Just slipped. Without the 4wd I doubt I could have gotten out of the way in time to avoid the collision.

4wd also means I "CAN" in fact go out in condition where you and your 2wd really should stay home. BUT I do it right. I got home in a blizzard once. I did it at 20mph on I95. I stopped at least 6 times on the way home to yank people out of the ditch. ALL BUT ONE of them was an SUV. :-)

IE drive to the conditions and within the limits of your vehicle AND your driving skills!