I wonder why the media don't tell us about sports cars?
Submitted: Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 09:07
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Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath
New Scientist reports: "Sports cars more dangerous than SUVs
21 December 2007
Magazine issue 2635
Vilified as big and dangerous, sports utility vehicles are not the worst threats to life and limb on the road. It is the sports car that kills the most people per crash, and crashes the most often.
SUVs get picked on for good reason: their blunt, chest-high bodywork can crush pedestrians in collisions, and their high centre of gravity increases the risk of rolling. A study in 2005 also showed that while SUV drivers run the same risk of injury as other drivers, they are more likely to injure others (Accident Analysis and Prevention, vol 37, p 479).
Despite this, driving a sports car still poses the greatest overall risk of injury. Michael Keall of
Monash University in
Melbourne, Australia, and Stuart Newstead of Otago University in
Wellington, New Zealand, analysed data on 17,000 crashes involving vans, sports cars, saloon cars and SUVs that occurred in New Zealand" (and Australia?)
It is unfortunate that I don't have a subscription to bring you the rest of the report but you can buy it at
New Scientist site I just love the reading from time to time
Reply By: lifeisgood - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 09:41
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 09:41
Of course its not really the "vehicle" that is dangerous - its mostly the drivers disregard for safe driiving.
How many " accidents" would we have , and how serious the injuries , if we all drove at only 30 km/hr for example. (Only making the point --Speed kills)
I am quite concerned about jacked up old 4x4s driven by
young and often P plate drivers who treat them like sport or hoon cars.
Bad handling , heavy , high center of gravity , less suitable tyres ,slower braking ,bigger crunch factor.
As a pedestrian, cyclist , motorcyclist /trailbike rider or small car owner you dont want to meet up with a big 4by and bull bar.
So as proud owners of such a vehicle lets make an effort to drive more responsibly than other drivers and with greater courtesy.
I'll come down from the pulpit now LOL !!
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 17:38
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 17:38
Speed is only part of it. Germany's autobahns and Germany on general have around the same number of fatalities as we do per capita.
They re MUCH BETTER DRIVERS over there. Care for others, let them into the traffic, not bull at a
gate mongrels like many an aussie driver (generalisation).
We pride ourselves as good drivers but overall we arent...IMHO
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Follow Up By: Member - Kingsley N (SA) - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 18:04
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 18:04
Has anyone noticed how often the photos and video footage of the vehicles involved in accidents show that they are fitted with wide, shiny magwheels and also (presumably) after market exhaust systems?
It is a tragic fact of life unfortunately. Some people drive too fast and innocent people die. We hear and see them roaring along the valley road near our house as if it was a race track.
Please be careful out there.
Have a safe and happy Christmas.
Kingo
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 19:23
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 19:23
The reason for posting wasn't anything to do with some of the hobby horses here but to give an understanding that the class of car, loosely classed as a "sports car" was doing more damage per vehicle than the 4by. That is including jacked up ones that lifeisgood is trying to say typify the 4by that creates havoc. The 4by may be as a pedestrian, he is worried by it, but sports cars, representatively, are more damaging.
Bonz, you would have noticed in Germany on the autobahns, the shielding against cross winds and the like, to keep dangers at a minimum. I too am impressed by the way drivers there look out for others rather than set out to offend others.
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Reply By: Notso - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 09:55
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 09:55
It would be interesting to see the data on crashes per thousand vehicles or something similar to see what the real risk of being injured in or by a 4WD.
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Reply By: Member - Alan H (Narangba QLD - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 12:00
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 12:00
I notice that the risk of injury within a 200 series must be high as it is full of airbags yet the 70 series must be much safer as it has no airbags.
LOL
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Follow Up By: pop2jocem - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 15:03
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 15:03
Maybe Mr Toyota regards 70 series drivers as better drivers than 200 series drivers?
Cheers and a happy and safe Xmas to all.
pop2jocem
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 16:03
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 16:03
Remember the story of the Princess and the pea? No matter how thick the mattress, she could feel the pea underneath. I reckon some .
I reckon Mr Yota is just not looking after those in the "industrial' model, rather than seeing them safer. Better margins for him.
Happy Christmas, but don't get into an accident situation with the 70 series without the cosseted bags.
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 16:12
Sunday, Dec 23, 2007 at 16:12
pop2jocem
now that was a very good reply
I can see where you're coming from
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Reply By: Member - Barnesy (SA) - Monday, Dec 24, 2007 at 01:28
Monday, Dec 24, 2007 at 01:28
The media do tell us about sports cars.
They are the 'hoon' drivers that A Current Affair has on every week doing burnouts on city streets in their hottet up WRX's and Skylines.They're not vans, saloons or SUV's so they must be sports cars.
Seems that around populated areas the most fatalities occur on country roads in SS Commodores or XR6 Falcons and is due most often to speeding.
Barnesy
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