Airbags are the reason I walked away from a pretty bad accident (enough to cause $20,000 in damage to my car) without a single scratch. Otherwise my head would've hit the steering wheel with considerable force, possibly causing neck and brain injury.
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The Car Thread ... !
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Airbags are one of the best safety innovations of the past 25 years, and actually watching the slow-motion crash tests will show you why.
Newer technology airbags tailor the deployment to the severity of the crash and location/direction of impact-not only are they good, but the manufacturers are constantly trying to make them better.
BTW, I've detonated both front and side curtain airbags outside of cars(thanks to a friend who grew up in a body shop). Side curtains work considerably differently than front bags. Basically, they're almost like a big inflatable life raft-they inflate with compressed nitrogen rather than the sodium azide/potassium nitrate mix(or similar) of front airbags. They also don't generally deflate on impact in the same way that front bags do. Most modern airbags are designed in such a way that they effectively turn the interior of the car into a big bouncy house during a crash-that's sure a lot safer than having your head bounce around on any conceivable surface inside the car.
I'll take a totaled car where I'm uninjured or minimally injured over being dead or maimed in a crash where my car is repairable.
Newer technology airbags tailor the deployment to the severity of the crash and location/direction of impact-not only are they good, but the manufacturers are constantly trying to make them better.
BTW, I've detonated both front and side curtain airbags outside of cars(thanks to a friend who grew up in a body shop). Side curtains work considerably differently than front bags. Basically, they're almost like a big inflatable life raft-they inflate with compressed nitrogen rather than the sodium azide/potassium nitrate mix(or similar) of front airbags. They also don't generally deflate on impact in the same way that front bags do. Most modern airbags are designed in such a way that they effectively turn the interior of the car into a big bouncy house during a crash-that's sure a lot safer than having your head bounce around on any conceivable surface inside the car.
I'll take a totaled car where I'm uninjured or minimally injured over being dead or maimed in a crash where my car is repairable.
The whiplash given to you by the forced of a brick wall smacking you in the face would be worse than the pain experienced smacking the steering wheel. Airbags actually SAVING lives is something the federal government wants you to believe. Saving Lives is why they made it federal law that all cars manufactured on or after Janurary 1st 1964 (or 65) had to have seat belts. Airbags ar SRS systems "Suplementery Restratint Systems" they are there to help reduce the chance of injury if you are one of those idiots that think seat belt laws dont apply to you. Airbags in and of themselves, DO NOT SAVE LIVES! they will not prevent you from being ejected from the car nor will they prevent you from going through the windsheild. SEAT BELTS save lives! Airbags are a added layer of protection if you are in a head on crash. You ass-end someone or someone kisses your fender or door panel airbags wont help you. they DO NOT deploy in side collisions only frontal....
Except I walked away with no injuries, so no, this mythical brick wall you speak of didn't injure me worse than smacking my head into the steering wheel.
And that's why modern cars have side airbags.
Only one problem with that last statement. Your airbags deploy, the car is totalled PERIOD. Once airbags deploy auto insurance companies total the car out because it will be cheaper to total it and give you a check for the book value rather than pay to have the airbags replaced.
So, you're saying you'd rather be seriously hurt or killed in a crash than have your car totaled...
I've seen them at Walmart, though I don't ever remember them being sold in colors other than silver/chrome and "actual red". It's not like it's a custom car part.
That looks to me like scratches with dirt.
I'm not complaining about your car. I'm telling you exactly what a collector would say if they were to buy your car (and potentially anyone buying it regularly before the hypothetical classic status). Collectors usually want original everything in impeccable condition. Alternatively, if it's modified, it has to be done in a tasteful and appropriate means- using quality items (I.e. Hot Rods). Making a Daewoo Lanos "sporty" with cheap accessories does not make sense given the context of what the car is. That would be like taking a 1960's MG and making it a RICER, it's a culture clash. Or putting hunting/camo decals, steel bumpers, driving lights, and off-road tires on my 5-series.
You can do whatever you want to your car. Really my only comments I think that should have any weight in your mind are the ones that are said to help you. Those include safety concerns, disaster waiting to happen mechanical problems, and financial decisions- the frequent echoes of "why don't you fix the car before doing x y z."
You have just inadvertantly released this whole can of worms again. You probably don't know, but Matthew doesn't use airbags (let alone need any safety features due to his cat-like reflexes, 360* field of vision, supernatural precognition abilities, advanced professional driving skills, and car's superior driving dynamics).
Maybe not physical injuries but airbags WILL Leave you with black and blue bruise(s) and/or cuts/scrapes.
as far has your 1st statement? how would you know? If you didn't have your head smack the steering wheel how would you know it wouldn't injure you worse?
No that's not what I am saying. I am saying IF they deploy your car is NOT repairable by an insurance standpoint. Again... Airbags DON'T SAVE LIVES! They are a extra layer of protection.... A extra layer of potection that i have SEEN the effects of 1st hand from several family members who would of been MUCH Better off if there was no airbags. THAT is part of the reason i have them disabled in both cars.
You must have a steel plate in your head if you think getting some bruises and scrapes is a worse injury than hitting a hard object like your steering wheel in full force after a major accident.....
I'd rather have some cuts and bruises than traumatic brain injury. Besides, I didn't have any of those. Not a single scratch on my body.
1. The shifter and pedals were bought BEFORE the brake problems came back and AFTER they were "fixed" The LEDs, are a "Upgrade" or a "Conversion" whichever you would like to call it. They aren't meant to add valve or improve anything other than me not having to worry about checking my light bulbs. The "Sport" side of a Lanos is just a appearence package...
2. no need to be a DICK expececially in sarcasm!
I think the force of hitting a brick wall at 200MPH would me MUCH stronger than the G-Force of you body smacking a steering wheel. Then again I have never BEEN in a accident because I know how to drive. I have had MANY close calls but because I always pay attention to things around me and lay on the horn I have avoided all of them... I can do what I can to make sure I don't hit anyone even if they would be at fault but i can damn sure make sure that If i am in a accident it will be from someone hitting ME not the other way around.
I'm the primary developer, analyst, architect for a national traumatic injury portal - I can tell you, the data (that starts with pre-hospital, site/event details including safety/restraint system use) does NOT support ANY of your assertions.
But hey, what the heck would a bunch of PhDs know about any of this ...
I've seen exactly one of those.
In 2005, I took a tour around France, and when we were in Nice we went to Monaco for the day.
We walked over to the palace to watch the changing of the guard, but were informed that it would be delayed because Prince Albert would be arriving shortly.
We stood around and watched for about 10-15 minutes, when-of all things-a chaufferred Volkwagon pulled up and through the gates with Prince Albert in the back seat.
I was actually a bit surprised to see the prince in a Volkswagon at the time, but after I got home and researched, I realized it was a VW Phaeton and that it made perfect sense.
You're just a part of the government conspiracy. Obviously paid by them to make up the data.
At least the good news here is if the crashes, he is only affecting himself hopefully. Won't be taking anyone with him.
These features are pretty standard because that's what the market wants. I can backup fine without a backup camera, but honestly it makes parallel or tandem parking much easier- especially in newer cars that are difficult to see out the back. I'd prefer everyone has a back up camera so no one rear ends each other. What's so bad about navigation, Bluetooth, and iPod comparability?
DRLs are required in many places. Not where I live, but I always drive with my headlights on.
1. Whiplash occurs in car accidents without airbags/airbag deployments. They problem is reduced with active headrests.
2. Do you understand how statistics work? If less people die or have serious injury in cars with airbags, then they are saving lives.
3. People can hit their heads and still be ejected even with seat belts on. In some cases they cause more damage. But on average, they save lives. **you don't have to hit your head too hard to do serious damage**
4. Yes, you have to wear your seatbelt for the airbag to be effective. That does not mean the airbag is not effective itself.
5. They only deploy in frontal because that's the way your body goes-forward. If you get hit from behind, your body gets pushed backwards into the seat. Basically your body wants to go to the side you get hit- so if you get hit from the left your body goes left (actually your car hits you from the left- more accurate prospective).
While it is illegal to have any child in the front seat under age 12, this DOES Show that in low-speed crashes airbags do more harm than they do good.
I Drive with my headlights on too even in the impala, but personall that just a pain in the ass ive made habit. LED DRLs would mean I dont have to say "oh, I forgot to turn my lights on" (mind you this is on regular days where the weather doesn't require any headlights. I see so many people breaking the laws they refuse to have their headlights on in rain or snow or even fog. I am adding Fogs and DRLS out of safety. My car being silver you cant see it at all in heavy rain or snow or even mild fog.
AFAIK there is no states that require DRLs AFAIK Canada is the only place in North America that has made them a law.
1. You can ask my mom about that, see her X-Rays, then try to tell her that. I know for a fact that's not true.
The problem with Bluetooth is DISTRACTION..... the problem with navigation, Its a added $2000 to the car, you can use a "Smart"phone GPS or even a independent GPS for a fraction that cost. Plus once the car reaches a certain age the manufacture wont release map updates anymore leaving you with a useful be SEVERLY outdated GPS (Like the case of my Magellan)
EDIT: do you think all of these "features" will have replacement parts in 5,10,15 or even 20 years once they fail? (assuming they even LAST that long) Not to mention the cost of replacement will probably excede the car's value once they DO fail
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This is 1. Older airbag technology being from 1990-2000. Bunn mentioned the advancements they have made. Subtract the 104 kids that leaves 75 people. That's quite small compared the the number of lives saved. 75 deaths (or even call it 200) over ten years versus tens of thousands lives saved.
You'll trade 75 lives for thousands? As callous as this sounds, this is how in reality risk is assessed. In drug trials the drug might be shown to cause problems for a few people out of thousands, but if the benefit vastly outweighs the cost (ie cures cancer really well) it will be utilized.
Temple of VTEC is reporting the Civic Type R will cost 355,588.13 SEK ($43,100), but that's after VAT. The actual car costs 284,470.50 SEK (around $34,500 USD).
I only bring this up because the modern Civic Type R and the Focus RS are in their infancy and price point is a huge key to their success.
Civic Type R
Focus RS
I only bring this up because the modern Civic Type R and the Focus RS are in their infancy and price point is a huge key to their success.
Civic Type R
Focus RS
The souped up Civic and Focus are two ugly cars. The styling has drifted too far from the lesser models.