[DML] Re: JZD Was Brilliant!

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In a funny way that accident worked for the long term best. A little more than 12 months later I started doing locomotive repair, driving a 12,000 lbs service truck. Having experienced first hand how useless brakes in fact are for stopping heavyweight vehicles, I was always careful to keep a safe following distance. That practice definitely carries into my current duties as a bus driver. Unfortunately I see far too many CDL drivers on the road who do not keep safe following distances, including school bus drivers. I can only assume they have not had similar first hand accident experience.

BTW: You do not want to tangle with a school bus. The front bumper is a giant slab of steel bolted directly to the frame. Unless you happen to be driving a school bus yourself, chances are you will lose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao7z5588els
It's madness that I'm the only one with a seatbelt, but numbers show they are one of the safest ways to travel, even with the kids bouncing around like pinballs.

Bill Robertson
#5939


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "content22207" <brobertson@...> wrote:
>
> I have only ever been in one automobile accident. That accident totaled the vehicle I hit, but did very little damage to the vehicle I was driving. Fortunately nobody was injured, including the bicyclist riding in the middle of the road without lights or even reflectors who precipitated the whole thing. I was charged of course, but my DA's practice is to drop charges (if requested) once insurance settles, so even that turned out OK (DMV doesn't carry any record of the incident). 
> 
> Draw whatever conclusions you want.
> 
> Having been through the whole experience, from impact to repair (effected myself), I have drawn mine. I drive with a clear conscience. And a bit more following distance....
> 
> Bill Robertson
> #5939
> 
> 
> --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Martin Gutkowski" <martin@> wrote:
> >
> > So your ancient cars fitted with airbags would be as safe as modern cars and the way they crumple is all a conspiracy to make people need new cars after a crash.
> > 
> > Interesting.
> > 
> > 
> > Sent from my BlackBerry®
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: "content22207" <brobertson@>
> > Sender: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:12:25 
> > To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Reply-To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: [DML] Re: JZD Was Brilliant!
> > 
> > Airbags.... 
> > 
> > Airbags are a late 80's/early 90's phenomenon. They are ubiquitous now, but were unknown for most of motoring history.
> > 
> > Bill Robertson
> > #5939
> > 
> > --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, chris.almy@ wrote:
> > >
> > > Bill, 
> > > If I recall correctly, you said those Grand Am passengers were just fine after the accident. So the car did it's job and protected them over itself. That's what modern cars do. Most people would agree they would rather have a higher repair bill then weeks of physical therapy and/or possible chronic pain. It's been said time and time again (not that you are interested in learning this) but you CAN'T JUDGE A VEHICLE'S SAFETY BY THE POST CRASH REPAIR BILL!!! 
> > > 
> > > As for another car crash, here's one against a post-Nader Volvo Wagon (the ultimate in 80's safety) versus a smaller Renault: 
> > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBDyeWofcLY 
> > > 
> > > Finally, something to consider. In 1975-80, there were about 33 deaths per billion miles traveled. Today there are 11-12 deaths per billion miles traveled. It's almost as if what everyone else is saying is true in that auto companies continue to improve the safety of the cars and that older cars simply aren't as safe by today's standards. And before you try to claim the reduction was from seat belt use, by 1990 the deaths were still at 20 per billion miles. So we've had a continual reduction even after the seat belt laws. 
> > > 
> > > Chri s 
> > > VIN 4099 
> > > 
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "content22207" <brobertson@> 
> > > To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> > > Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 2:35:13 PM 
> > > Subject: [DML] Re: JZD Was Brilliant! 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > See Message #83812. 
> > > 
> > > 1959 Bel Air is pre-Nader. A fairer comparison would have been an offset frontal impact with a 1979 Impala or Caprice. 
> > > 
> > > I have personally totaled a late model Grand Am with a 1978 Lincoln. It was an offset collision from my end -- my car skewed diagonally into the Grand Am, which was stopping true. I did not really hear the impact, and I certainly did not feel it -- I saw it more than anything. Got out of the car (my doors still worked), looked at my car, and thought "Oh, this isn't so bad." Then I looked at the Grand Am.... 
> > > 
> > > The Grand Am's front doors still worked, but the back doors were jambed shut because the whole back end of the car buckled -- what would have happened if someone had been in the back seat? 
> > > 
> > > For the morbidly curious, this is what a 1978 Lincoln looks like: http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/428089_353403838038206_100001057778755_1052103_510879872_n.jpg 
> > > The fenders are perfectly shaped for knifing into Grand Am trunks.... 
> > > 
> > > As stated, I did $150 damage to my Lincoln, including a couple cans of black spray paint for the replacement fender (the knife edge around the parking light was too badly damaged to save). That car is still tooling around Laurinburg to this day under new ownership. 
> > > 
> > > FWIW: Curb weight of a 1959 Bel Air is 3,622 lbs (about 200 lbs lighter than the 3,415 lbs curb weight of the 2009 Malibu used in the video). Curb weight of a 1978 Lincoln Mark V is 4,775 lbs. Like all post-Nader vehicles, Lincoln Mark V fenders are designed for crumple protection, not just decoration. 
> > > 
> > > Bill Robertson 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ------------------------------------
> > 
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> > 
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> > 
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> >
>




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