Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 15:10:58 +1000
Reply-To: Ian Astbury <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ian Astbury <kelian@IPRIMUS.COM.AU>
Subject: crashing....
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
G'day all,
Only get to read occasionally at the moment, but followed the recent
crash posts with interest.
I think it is important to compare with other similar vehicles. Front
control vehicles are obviously going to be deficient in front crumple
zones. One of the prices to pay for the very efficient use of space.
However, in such company the vanagon-transporter-caravelle excels (in my
humble opinion). In Aus at least, the only other vans available in the
80's were those of japanese origin, these were cheap, generally
reliable, and made good workhorses, at least in dry environments. Didn't
have quite the same reputation in europe, but they had other options.
The VW here was VERY expensive, a combination of tax policies and
exchange rates.
In the face of such competition, safety has been an important decision
in me purchasing VW's. My current caravelle cost as much as a Toyota
half the age. But if I have to make a sudden correction, misjudge a dirt
bend, or fail to see a large whole in the road, the handling gives me an
edge in recovering/avoiding. Were the worst to happen, then I would also
be better off.
btw, the previous owner had 5 daughters. He brought her because his wife
had rolled the previous one 4 times after hitting a kangaroo and then a
drainage ditch on a dark highway. They all walked away. Anecdotal
evidence, but he is an ambulance officer. Yes, they were all wearing
lap-sash seatbelts, and using a luggage barrier.
Veronika(my caravelle) is fitted with a good 'roo bar' and hella 2000
spots to reduce the risk af a repeat. The spots are aimed to illuminate
the shoulders of the road about 200m ahead, where they usually wait
before jumping out about 5m in front!
All my families cars are fitted with aluminium bumper replacement roo
bars, and living in an infested area, they have saved a lot of damage.
Relaxed speeds mean they haven't yet been really tested yet. Similar to
deer accidents, kangaroos often cause injury by coming up and thru a
windscreen. A good bar is designed to catch or deflect the animal to
reduce this risk. The idea is to protect the occupants and the radiator
to keep the vehicle derivable.
Very useful in slow and major accidents too, but can make matters worse
in a medium crash by bending a chassis, and reducing the crumple,
transferring the force to the (seatbelted) passengers necks. Not to
pedestrian friendly either.
A badly designed bar is very bad in a heavy accident, as it simply bends
at the base, and folds down over the drivers/passengers legs, trapping
them. Seen it happen, not pretty.
Gotta go, leave early and not have to rush! Stay safe, and enjoy the
view.
Ian.
|