[Roadsters] OT: How fast do you have to be going to do this???

[Gordon Glasgow]

No matter how good the car is, there's always some combination of
circumstances that will do it in.

I've always figured the best defense is a good offense. The best way to
survive a wreck is to avoid being involved in one. So I try to be constantly
aware of everything that is going on around me (front AND rear) in a
predictive way. I'm looking at car behavior, not just position, and if I see
someone who is driving erratically or making sudden moves, I give them more
attention as I get near them.

In addition to that, having a highly responsive car helps when you do have
to "go aggressive" to avoid some situation. It's like jumping out of the way
of something when you're walking - you don't just stand there. God put that
gas pedal there for a reason.

Granted, things can still get you out of the blue, but being aggressively
proactive is the best way to minimize that possibility.

An example of clueless driving was the footage they had on the news the
other night of some dummy having his Subaru WRX pulled out of a snow-filled
ditch on one of the local passes here the other day. I couldn't figure out
how in the world he could have ditched a Subie until he said he was on
cruise control! DUH!

Gordon

-----Original Message-----
From: robbeddington at aol.com [mailto:robbeddington at aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 12:35 PM
To: Gordon Glasgow; Datsun-Roadsters at Autox. Team. Net
Subject: Re: [Roadsters] OT: How fast do you have to be going to do
this???


A few years ago I witnessed a nearly new Peugeot 205 GTI break in half after
hitting the car in front of me (my bosses car!).  The impact was about 50
mph max. It was a sight I won't forget.

Having checked that my boss and another colleague were OK I headed off down
the bank to see both halves of the 205 about 20 feet apart.  Fearing the
worst and not knowing how many injured people/bodies I might find, I was
amazed to find just one guy sat on the bank about 30 feet further on. He
must have been thrown clear and somersaulted down the bank.  He was dazed
but had no visible injuries.

OK the Peugeot was a small car but I laid odds that it was 2 wrecks welded
together. After the car had been examined, the police I gave a statement to
said not.

The guy was convicted of dangerous driving.  He was within the 60mph speed
limit - but was on the wrong side of the road...

The 205 was my wife's favourite car. From then on I didn't allow her to buy
one!

The worry was that all cars go through rigorous euro safety tests. No manner
of testing accounted for this freak impact.

Rob