|
|
|
08-02-2016, 11:55 AM | #23 | |
Colonel
1301
Rep 2,093
Posts
Drives: '11 135i M Sport
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Delmarva Peninsula
|
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 12:12 PM | #24 | |
Chief Warrant Officer
1023
Rep 1,638
Posts |
Quote:
That incident really boosted my confidence in our little cars.
__________________
"Prius" is Latin for Eunuch.
"Hrothgar": 2012 135i: 6MT M-Sport, BSM/Blk; Nav, Premium, Convenience, HK Dinan Stage 2 +PPK /// BMW PE /// VRSF CP /// K&N /// Koni Sports /// RSFB Inserts /// MPS4S 225/255 /// Other Stuff |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 12:20 PM | #25 | |
Major General
43565
Rep 7,224
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 12:34 PM | #26 | |
Brigadier General
5150
Rep 3,241
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 03:08 PM | #27 | |
Chief Warrant Officer
1023
Rep 1,638
Posts |
Quote:
Likewise, we don't want cars that are so "crumply" that they are totaled when we get into what should be a minor fender-bender. In my case, the car did exactly what it was supposed to do: parts crumpled, absorbed the impact, and attenuated the energy (I had to replace my rear bumper, trunk lid, and left rear quarter panel, which includes the b-pillar and window arch all the way to the A-pillar; and one unibody frame panel had to be replaced as well). I was not injured, and in fact was only barely sore the next day from a fairly violent rear impact (violent enough to total an SUV). But I was able to drive home without significant structural or functional failure, which I feel is the sign of exceptional design engineering. On the other hand, possibly due to the location of the impact or due to a different engineering philosophy, the Highlander's front end was destroyed. Multiple types of fluids were leaking from the severely compromised engine compartment (which in itself could be hazardous if one of those fluids was gasoline - there are tens of thousands of car fires every year in the US, many of which turn what should be non-fatal crashes into fatal ones). I would prefer a vehicle that protects me in a crash and remains a viable long-term vehicle over one that fully sacrifices itself unnecessarily and has to be replaced (in cases other than severe, potentially injurious crashes). Anyway, that's my $.02
__________________
"Prius" is Latin for Eunuch.
"Hrothgar": 2012 135i: 6MT M-Sport, BSM/Blk; Nav, Premium, Convenience, HK Dinan Stage 2 +PPK /// BMW PE /// VRSF CP /// K&N /// Koni Sports /// RSFB Inserts /// MPS4S 225/255 /// Other Stuff |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 04:52 PM | #28 | |
Brigadier General
5150
Rep 3,241
Posts |
Quote:
Crash design is definitely a balancing act between occupancy safety and repairability of the car. In your example of potential gas fires, many manufacturers have designed systems to help minimize this possibility. My old Ford Focus had such a feature where there was an inertia cut off switch for the fuel pump. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 08:02 PM | #29 | |
C2H5OH
3915
Rep 2,144
Posts |
Quote:
I can say that I've never seen red reflectors on the roadway. Maybe they are used in Minnesota and I just haven't noticed. But I don't routinely drive the wrong way either. But from what little experience with wrong way drivers I have, myself being guilty for a short distance on an empty road. I can say that you are in a panic mode. If there is any traffic I can see being quite frantic. Why simply stopping and turning around isn't the first course of action I don't know. But our nature says we keep moving forward until a first safe turn around. And maybe that's what the driver was trying to do, find a break in the median to get back to the correct direction ... one can only hope. Also in cases of drunk (speculative) driver vs sober (assumed) driver I don't go to 'well what about a cab or taxi service'. I go right to the friends/coworkers. What kind of friend can you be to have drinks and let your buddy do this? I never let a buddy drive drunk. I never will either. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-02-2016, 09:11 PM | #30 |
Beachtown Bill Collector
582
Rep 1,062
Posts
Drives: 2012 135i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Diego
|
That's because they're not legislated in every state. Arizona has them, California does not, at least not in my area.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-03-2016, 06:39 AM | #31 |
Private
34
Rep 95
Posts |
My one experience with a wrong way driver was on I-95 in rural South Carolina near Georgia a long time ago in the middle of the afternoon. The driver was in the fast lane thinking it was the slow lane. I witnessed cars moving over suddenly in front of me and saw way too much chrome for the rear of a car that was in my lane. I moved over and when I passed her, I saw that her eyes were as big as saucers (I will never forget that sight) because she had just realized she was going the wrong way. I watched her pull off on the shoulder in my rear view mirror. Thankfully she didn't hit anyone.
We have the colored reflectors in places in SC (at least in our county). They are white, yellow, and red (with a single blue reflector marking fire hydrants). |
Appreciate
0
|
08-03-2016, 07:14 AM | #32 |
Brigadier General
1541
Rep 3,071
Posts |
Amazingly he was apparently going fast 100 mph in the carpool lane at the time of the accident, and traveled over 10 miles on the freeway in the Wong direction. Stated on the 405 and transitioned to I-5 going the wrong way?. Hard to believe/imagine how that's possible at any hour in LA. so cal. Busy interchange at anytime.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/...an-capistrano/
__________________
2011 135i w/ DCT | ZSP Sport Pkg | PPK | Ohlins R
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-03-2016, 07:20 AM | #33 |
Brigadier General
1541
Rep 3,071
Posts |
Map - Sand Canyon Ave to where accident happened.
__________________
2011 135i w/ DCT | ZSP Sport Pkg | PPK | Ohlins R
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-03-2016, 01:17 PM | #35 |
Banned
117
Rep 460
Posts |
Things Are Better Today!
In the past, drunk drivers used to be the favorite topic of comedians! Fortunately, that's no longer the case.
When I was in college and first beginning to drive, I used to get tapped from behind by some drunk who didn't apply the brakes in time. I'd jump out of my car and scream at the SOB, but the guy could barely reply or even stand up. A study done in Ohio found that between the hours of 1am and 4am, one out of five drivers was drunk behind the wheel. Another sad fact is drunks going the wrong way is a common and seldom survivable accident. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|