Cars We Drive!

[otc]

We Can Cut Traffic Deaths in Half, But Nobody Wants To

Readily available technology can eliminate the most common causes of death in car crashes, if only we didn't hate the solutions.

jalopnik.com

This one is in fact pretty jaw dropping:

I'm always dumbfounded that there are so many people who refuse to wear seatbelts.

 

[brokencycle]

We Can Cut Traffic Deaths in Half, But Nobody Wants To

Readily available technology can eliminate the most common causes of death in car crashes, if only we didn't hate the solutions.

jalopnik.com

We have had posters here decry very modest design changes to things like bumper heights that will save lives because it reduces the peakness of the automobile.

This one is in fact pretty jaw dropping:
View attachment 1793673

I'm always dumbfounded that there are so many people who refuse to wear seatbelts.

I was going to post the same thing.

NHTSA says over 90 percent of Americans use a seatbelt when they’re in a car. The remaining 10 percent make up nearly half of those who die in crashes.

 

[jbarwick]

I have been in some cars with larger individuals and they don't wear seatbelts because it is uncomfortable. This can't be all of it as I'd assume some of the fatalities are drug/alcohol related and not wearing a seatbelt.

 

[otc]

The comments on that article are a dumpster fire, but the top comment makes a fair point that this article ignored...there are other countries with FAR lower rates that don't have these technologies. There's a couple more things that could significantly improve traffic safety that there is *zero* will to do in the USA:

Stricter licensing/comprehensive training requirements.
Vehicle safety inspections.

The latter would probably impact jacked up pickup trucks with too-high bumper heights, so you know it will never happen since the pickup truck has more political power than any inanimate object besides guns.

 

[brokencycle]

The comments on that article are a dumpster fire, but the top comment makes a fair point that this article ignored...there are other countries with FAR lower rates that don't have these technologies. There's a couple more things that could significantly improve traffic safety that there is *zero* will to do in the USA:

Stricter licensing/comprehensive training requirements.
Vehicle safety inspections.

The latter would probably impact jacked up pickup trucks with too-high bumper heights, so you know it will never happen since the pickup truck has more political power than any inanimate object besides guns.

Safety inspections, in my experience, are a joke and just a grift as implemented here: service shops get a bunch of inspection revenue and pass people anyway. I have never seen more people driving without functioning brake lights than where I live now which requires annual inspections. I also know people with illegal tint who will happily tell you the guy they go to who will pass your tint inspection for an extra $20.

We should use things like narrowing lanes for slower speed roads. Did I post that article a few months back about all the ways that European engineers design roads to force safer driving behavior?

 

[Texasmade]

Safety inspections, in my experience, are a joke and just a grift as implemented here: service shops get a bunch of inspection revenue and pass people anyway. I have never seen more people driving without functioning brake lights than where I live now which requires annual inspections. I also know people with illegal tint who will happily tell you the guy they go to who will pass your tint inspection for an extra $20.

We should use things like narrowing lanes for slower speed roads. Did I post that article a few months back about all the ways that European engineers design roads to force safer driving behavior?

There are some roads inside Houston city limits that are really narrow. Ppl with big ass trucks and SUVs are usually driving over the line. I come by in my Mini and purposely drive as close as I can too them to force them over before passing them.

 

[otc]

Safety inspections, in my experience, are a joke and just a grift as implemented here: service shops get a bunch of inspection revenue and pass people anyway. I have never seen more people driving without functioning brake lights than where I live now which requires annual inspections. I also know people with illegal tint who will happily tell you the guy they go to who will pass your tint inspection for an extra $20.

We should use things like narrowing lanes for slower speed roads. Did I post that article a few months back about all the ways that European engineers design roads to force safer driving behavior?

FWIW, the fact that we have ineffectual inspections (because there's no political will to strongly enforce) is not exactly a argument against using them. Almost seems like an intentional strategy to undermine them (do ****** inspections then point to places with no inspections with similar stats as evidence that the inspections don't work).

Also for the most part, illegal tint isn't much of a safety issue. If anything it is pitched as a safety issue for cops when they pull people over....you have to be well past "legal" tint before you create a safety hazard. Not to mention the stupidity of tint laws that allow SUVs and Vans to have unlimited tint on rear windows/windshield but then claim it is somehow dangerous for a sedan to go below 35%.

 

[HRoi]

the seatbelt thing is Darwinism, so watevs. Let’s do the breathalyzer interlock because that’s for my safety

We have had posters here decry very modest design changes to things like bumper heights that will save lives because it reduces the peakness of the automobile..

It me

i get it but it spelled the end of those gorgeous pre 2000’s designs

 

[jbarwick]

Since a lot of lifted trucks end up being Super Duties, don't they have different laws they follow? There is that emissions piece but I'd assume bumpers as well. Make them all put the bumper extender on like the G-Wagen 4x4

 

[sugarbutch]

Any vehicle exempt from passenger vehicle safety and emissions laws should require much stricter—and expensive—licensure to drive. We also need the equivalent of TUV to get rid of the ridiculous lift kits, giant tires, and ****** exhaust components.

 

[am55]

 

[Omega Male]

Peak Lada.

 

[razl]

Thought those were bullet holes. Zoomed in and saw they were star decals or something.

Disappointed.

 

[audiophilia]

Very nice ride. Underrated, technically adept with fine fit & finish. Loving the drive. 2021 BMW X2 28i. BMW Victoria. Exceptional service.

 

[nootje]

If we thought car design in the past had become one gray mass, welcome to the electric era:

DeLorean offers a first look at its gull-winged Alpha 5 EV revival

The Alpha 5 hits 88mph in just 4.35 seconds.

www.theverge.com

This could have been drawn by basically any of the supercar makers. And the interior is evenmore bland.