Date:         Wed, 29 Apr 1998 12:04:36 -0400
Reply-To:     Patrick Dooley <pdooley@GTE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Patrick Dooley <pdooley@GTE.NET>
Subject:      more rhetoric on accidents
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have heard most accidents are side/frontal impacts, those in which one of
the front corners of the vehicle makes contact with another vehicle.  A
crash test demonstration on Fox last night pitted a full size F150  against
an escort.  The escort started to pull out onto a simulated road, and was
struck on the front passenger side.  I don't see how the passenger in the
escort would have survived, since the F150 pushed through the interior
compartment and struck the driver.  The truck was not hindered by the side
impact door beams, basically pushed the glass and window frame into and
through the escort.  I'm sure the same thing would happen in any small car,
which doesn't make me feel very safe in my scirocco.  I think the point
should be to avoid accidents, and as responsible drivers, we can do a lot to
reduce that probability.  Seems like some people in large vehicles get an
attitude that says "let him hit me, I'll do more damage to him".  I watched
this happen when my friend went from a tempo to a full size bronco.  He went
from an impatient driver to a first class ahole.  Point is, most accidents
are caused by carelessness or plain disregard for safety, and much can done
on our part to make driving safer.