Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:26:19 -0400
Reply-To: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: CR@P!!! Now a NV Statistic
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
I wholeheartedly agree.
I'd like to add that you should always be expecting them to do the exact
wrong thing at the exact wrong time, and therefore, always be planning an
avoidance path.
It's known in advanced driver training classes as 'defensive driving'.
It's absolutely critical to your life, your families' lives and to the
preservation of your beloved Vanagon.
Mike B.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 3:02 PM
Subject: Re: CR@P!!! Now a NV Statistic
> very sorry to hear about your misfortune.
>
> Seems this should be obvious................but ..............
> 'Fry to drive as FAR AWAY from all vehicles as possible, in all
> directions,
> front, rear, alongside " - like don't drive next to trucks etc.
>
> So your brakes where strong, but your tire traction was weak ?
> what was the condition of the pavement .........wet ?
>
> friend of mine hit the rear of a car like this ( this is what caused the
> mishap )
> She looked at what was going on out in front of her car..........the
> traffic
> situation, while moving.
> Then she looked around inside her car for her cell phone.
> A few seconds later, the next time she looked at what was in
> front.........it was too late to avoid hitting the car in front of her.
>
> sorry to go on............many, many people just watch the car in front of
> them.
> You have to watch the Entire Scene............the car in front of the car
> in
> front of you, and the car ahead of that..........as far as you can see,
> and
> watch the 'whole picture.'
>
> We need to be vigilant for the not vigilant drivers in front of
> us..........and always........stay way back, just to give yourself an
> escape
> route if nothing else.
> I hope your very loved Blackbeard is quite fixable !
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Matt Drew" <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 10:57 PM
> Subject: CR@P!!! Now a NV Statistic
>
>
>> It finally happened.
>> My spotless, accident-free record demolished - along with Blackbeard's
>> front
>> end.
>>
>> I was heading home from work tonight when I learned the hard way that I
>> shouldn't have hesitated to have my tires replaced when I knew they were
>> due.
>>
>> I knew that I was "a bit" overdue and that the tread was juuuust a bit on
>> the worn side.
>>
>> 2 Teenage girls (16 an 17) in the Toyota minivan in front of me (you
>> know,
>> they aren't very "mini" anymore!).
>> Driver (this was her 3rd accident already) slammed on her brakes.
>> So did I.
>> And I slid . . . and slid . . . a n d s l l l i i i i d d d d d d . .
>> .
>> .
>>
>> Right into the back of 'em.
>>
>> Put 2 dents in their rear hatch. That's it.
>> No broken lights, no cracked bumper . . . nothing.
>>
>> Blackbeard?
>> Front fiberglass is demolished.
>> Front grille, same.
>> Lights are intact and still working.
>> Biggest problems are the unavoidable new pool of coolant in the front and
>> the steering control.
>> Steering wheel turns, but is very choppy, almost locking in position.
>>
>> That's all I know for now.
>> Having him towed in tomorrow for a full assessment of the damages.
>>
>> Based on the brief description, what kind of repairs I'm potentially
>> looking
>> at (other than the obvious superficial ones)?
>> Radiator? Coolant line? Front axle?
>>
>> Oh well, I can be thankful at least that there were no injuries!
>>
>> It definitely could have been worse.
>>
>>
>> Drew
>> '90 GL "Blackbeard"
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