[Roadsters] Rollbar and Ragtop: Can I have it all?

[Ruth]

I know this is getting further and further OT, but...

Sometimes you are in the lap of the gods (or more correctly, the other  
stupid drivers out there) no matter how many safety features you have  
on your car/bike. A friend of mine was in an accident last week, and  
spent a week in ICU ventilated with a broken pelvis, punctured lung,  
lacerated liver and a whole host of associated injuries meaning she  
will maybe never work as a nurse again. She's on the ward now, but  
it's going to be a long slow recovery.

She was riding to work on her motorcycle in the rain, when the car in  
front of her stopped for a red light. She stopped in plenty of time,  
but the 4WD behind her didn't. She was sandwiched between the front of  
the 4WD and the car briefly, then the 4WD skidded over the top of her.

So be careful, and always assume that the other guy is a dickhead. And  
get a roll bar. And an airbag. But even that won't necessarily keep  
you out of the ER.

Ruth.

On 05/08/2008, at 11:54 PM, Gary McCormick wrote:

> The best way to develop situational awareness (S.A.) on the road is  
> to ride a motorcycle. I got my learner's permit at 15-1/2, license  
> at 16 - for a motorcycle only ('cuz I had a motorcycle only - my  
> folks said that when I could buy a car, I could get a license for a  
> car). You learn very quickly on a bike (and mine was small, a Yamaha  
> 100cc twin) that you are effectively invisible - and you are very  
> vulnerable. I have had the drivers of oncoming vehicles look me  
> right in the eye... and turn left in front of me anyway.
>
> The S.A. skills I learned as a callow youth have served me well in  
> 35+ years on the road (it didn't hurt that, with a father who was a  
> CHP officer, I heard a lot of rather sobering stories about the  
> possible  consequences of inattention on the road, as well as  
> reading CHP magazine every month and seeing the photos accompanying  
> the accident reports...).
>
> Of course, these are DEFENSIVE driving skills, and unfortunately  
> there are many people out there, like Fred's friend with the huge  
> 4WD truck, who practice OFFENSIVE driving - all the more reason for  
> the rest of us to develop good S.A.
>
> Gary McCormick
> San Jose, CA