4x4's are not the most dangerous after all.

Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 05:45

ThreadID: 27573 Views:3083 Replies:9 FollowUps:4

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drivesafe

Hi folks, for a change, here is some good news for 4x4’s.

This is a copy of a post on the AULRO forum.

Story from this mornings "The West Australian"

4WDs tops for rear visibility

..............Cameras can make cars safer while reversing, but the car industry says audible front parking and rear reversing sensors are better.
However, in a recent test of reversing visibility, two four wheel drives finished in the top fiveof the 222 vehicles tested.
Vehicles tested included 4WDs, people movers, utility and sport, luxury, large, medium, medium small and small sedans.
At the other end of the scale, Australias number one selling car, the Holden Commodore, featured among the worst, along with the Holden Crewman.
Only one 4WD featured in the bottom group.
"Contrary to popular belief, SGIO's research shows that 4WDs perform as well, if not better, when it comes to reversing visibility compared to popular sedans" Mr Kendall said.
"Many 4WDs actually outperformed some of Australia's top selling medium and large sedans. The Holden Commodore sedan, for example, fared badly with no stars and a 27 sqm blind area".......................

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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 06:49

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 06:49

Drivesafe,

Unfortunately, Harold Dropkick wouldn't read that, or take any notice of the facts, because it waters down his crusade.

Bill

I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

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AnswerID: 136399

Reply By: Nudenut - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 07:50

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 07:50

KIDS SAFE SA are suggesting tat drive ways be fenced off similar to home swiming pools to prevent toddlers being from being run over.....

pity that dropkick doesnt listen to them

lets face it a toddler would be invisible behind any car ...possibly also including the front....geez how tall is a toddler? what if they are sitting down in front?

AnswerID: 136405

Reply By: Member - Geoff M (Newcastle) - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 08:04

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 08:04

Had a thought about our friend Harold just recently, he reminds of of any born again, be it drinker, smoker or religious zealot.
If I remember correctly the lad Harold ran over someone a few years ago in his Volvo? that's his born again campaign.

Geoff.

Geoff,

Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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AnswerID: 136411

Reply By: Tracker Mick - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 09:17

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 09:17

Yesterday a 7year old (yes a midget) decided to take his parents commodore sedan to school. He actually reversed it down the driveway and drove it around a couple of the streets on his route to school coming to grief over a kerb a street from the school. On his way a witness passed him and nearly fell out the window of his car when he saw the dickynee sized driver, so he followed the kid and was there when the Police arrived. When the Police asked the kid about it all he said he couldn't sleep the night before because he was so excited with taking the car.
Naturally folks weren't happy. It was around 6am and buggar all traffic-imagine if it was around 8am.
Police still can't work out how he could see and still reach pedals.
Where does it end?
Be prepared for anything when driving.
Tracker

AnswerID: 136421

Reply By: Des Lexic - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 11:11

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 11:11

I have to agree with the comment about the Holden Crewman. I have one for work (the CrossCountry model) and the rear visability is woeful. It does have rear sensors fitted which helps but you can make the assumtion a stationary object will set it off. e.g. a gate post etc and not take any notice of it. If someone walks behind you when the vehicle is in reverse, the alarm sounds.
We don't have toddlers at home so it is not something you think about everytime you put a vehicle in reverse but through these forum's, it makes me aware of the dangers of reversing.
When my kids were small, fences kept them away from the driveway.
just my 2c worth.

AnswerID: 136443

Reply By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 14:40

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 14:40

What interests me most about these discussions is that the problem seems to be a contemporary one. When I was young - a few years ago now - I drove a HD holden and frequently reversed full speed down my parents driveway as it was a couple of hundred meters long and do a slding turn (dirt and grass) never ran over anything/body and couldn't see much either. Reckless - maybe, but a heap of fun. A little more sedate these days on my suburban driveway.

Kind regards

AnswerID: 136473

Follow Up By: joc45 - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 16:43

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 16:43

Ahhh, the old HD!
Did you deliberately do that or was that just a handling characteristic of the car? ;-)

FollowupID: 390243

Follow Up By: Member - Blue (VIC) - Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 18:37

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2005 at 18:37

bring back 4wheel drum brakes I say...

FollowupID: 390264

Follow Up By: Member - Beatit (QLD) - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 08:56

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 08:56

Yes well the car sure didn't have the best handling, mainly because I thought it cool to jack up the rear. On this occasion though it was a problem of watching too much starsky and hutch I reckon - the HD could do what ever that Comaro (?) could do.

Kind regards

FollowupID: 390335

Follow Up By: V8Diesel - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 16:31

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 16:31

Ford Torino it was.

I got locked up for doing that at a B&S ball. Good fun ;-))))

FollowupID: 390416

Reply By: drivesafe - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 08:23

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 08:23

Hi all, anybody carried out an after market installation of a rear view camera set up and what sort of cost and work is required.

I already have two different types to try but just wandering how others have faired.

Cheers.

AnswerID: 136572

Reply By: Rojac - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 08:39

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 08:39

Its still the responsibility of the driver to physically check behind if he cant see before blindly reversing. As far as sensors go, just another gimmick to sell cars to lazy people who compensate poor driving skills with aids. More candidates for public transport.

I dont need a senor, I have a towbar ;)

AnswerID: 136575

Reply By: Member - Melissa - Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 10:46

Thursday, Oct 27, 2005 at 10:46

We have a 4.5 year old and a 20 mth old. As well as the GU we also have a Falcon XR6T which has the rear spoiler etc. Rear visibility isn't great in either vehicle so we take other precautions with the kids when reversing out of the driveway. Other precautions include asking each other to watch the kids or ensuring that both kids are where we can see see them or in the car with us. We always reverse very slowly and I personally never have the radio/stereo on when reversing so that if there is a bump, I stand a chance of hearing it as well as feeling it. At the end of the day, no matter what vehicle you drive, it is the drivers responsibility. We all know the old saying "guns don't kill people, people kill people"...well same applies "4WD's don't kill people, people kill people".

:o) Melissa

AnswerID: 136592