"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
Having driven around at least five wouldbe accidents over the years, in
everything from a Buick Riviera, Mini, Renault Fuego, and Porsche 356, I
disagree. Perhaps maneuverability PLUS driving skill and experience
trumps crashworthiness (I have Skip Barber training and some autocross
experience). At any rate, I'd always rather avoid the accident entirely
than have one.

And you are certain that driving, say, a BMW X5 would have caused a
different outcome? How about a Ford Explorer? What are you going to do
when you get older and your reflexes slow?

That said, if the accident is truly unavoidable, having a bit more metal
around you is certainly nice.

It's much more than "nice". It's your ass.

Sort of like the BRS parachute debate: Do you want to have the ultimate
backup to use that one time the wings fold, at the expense of reduced
payload all the time and the increased temptation to push the limits a bit
more often.

Just because you can't control yourself doesn't mean nobody else can. Your
argument about temptation applies more to quick cars than planes and pilots.
I have an old M3, street legal, sort of, but basically ready to race. I
take it out for fun every few weeks. I can barely make it to the curb
before some yahoo is practically driving up the sidewalk to have a go. Back
when I used to do this stuff on track with other real race cars, I never saw
so much focussed yet misplaced testosterone fueled adrenaline displays.
Flying is hanging with a bunch of girls by comparison.

moo

moo



--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Happy Dog" wrote in message
.. .
"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in

Having had a Mini in the 70's, I would rather be driving one of those
than any SUV anytime. The ability to AVOID the accident in the first
place is always better than just surviving one.

I doubt that maneuverability trumps crashworthiness. I suspect that the
most important maneuverabilty feature of small cars is the shorter
stopping distance. Driving around an accident situation is usually a
pretty tough challenge. And, when it comes to taking a hit, most small
cares, and certainly small cars from the 70s don't fare so well.

moo




--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Peter Duniho wrote:

"Dave Stadt" wrote in message
. ..

A factor that cannot be determined is how many accidents are avoided
by
smaller vehicles due to their greater maneuverability.


Many factors are difficult or impossible to determine using current
statistical data gathering.

However, as in aviation, driver error is fundamentally the root cause
of most accidents. I find it amusing to see so many people (not just
in this newsgroup either) argue about which vehicle is "safer" when
first of all they haven't even agreed on what "safer" means, but more
importantly when most of those drivers need a "safer" vehicle because
they and everyone else on the road refuse to drive safely in the first
place.

Yes, it is unfortunate that to the auto crowd, especially folks in
government or the IIHS, that "safety" is defined as "crash worthiness"
rather than "capable of crash avoidance."


Matt