Auto safey then and now

Dave W · July 01, 2011, 05:35:48 PM

A couple of years old although I just saw it today.

Highlander · July 01, 2011, 05:39:35 PM

The same vintage...

SKATE RAT · July 02, 2011, 06:48:34 AM

i'd still rather have the '59

Pilgrim · July 02, 2011, 06:58:39 AM

Pretty graphic demonstration. Unfortunate loss of a nice '59.

This is also one reason that cars have gotten much heavier for their size - all the safety equipment has added considerably to the load. But it's worth it.

Dave W · July 02, 2011, 07:51:15 AM

Quote from: Pilgrim on July 02, 2011, 06:58:39 AM
Pretty graphic demonstration. Unfortunate loss of a nice '59.

This is also one reason that cars have gotten much heavier for their size - all the safety equipment has added considerably to the load. But it's worth it.

It is worth it. The rate of fatalities per vehicle mile continues to go down. It's dropped about 35% in the last 15 years.

nofi · July 02, 2011, 08:06:30 AM

the 59's right fender came off way to easily. didn't even look bolted on. the left fender and door sheared off easily also. the windshield came out in one piece as well as the sun visors. makes ya' think. i just remember the phony pick up truck explosions that someone (insurance co.)rigged several years ago.

FrankieTbird · July 02, 2011, 10:34:58 AM

What's the point? Look at that top view - both cars look pretty messed up. Probably the best thing to do, no matter what kind of car your driving, is don't plow straight on into another vehicle.

Pilgrim · July 02, 2011, 11:13:13 AM

Quote from: Dave W on July 02, 2011, 07:51:15 AM
It is worth it. The rate of fatalities per vehicle mile continues to go down. It's dropped about 35% in the last 15 years.

Agreed! Just pointing it out. Increased efficiency and aerodynamics have more than compensated for the weight gain.

and yes, that '59 looked like it came apart. I swear that in the slow-mo, there appeared to be a live person inside the new car. Must have been a crash dummy.

Dave W · July 02, 2011, 11:27:18 AM

Quote from: nofi on July 02, 2011, 08:06:30 AM
the 59's right fender came off way to easily. didn't even look bolted on. the left fender and door sheared off easily also. the windshield came out in one piece as well as the sun visors. makes ya' think. i just remember the phony pick up truck explosions that someone (insurance co.)rigged several years ago.

That was Dateline NBC with the rigged tests, not an insurance company. This is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and it's the exact same test they've been using for 50 years to determine safety ratings -- well before the government was doing it. These tests were started way back so that member insurance companies would be able to base their premiums on which cars were expected to have more or less damage.

The lack of crumple zones, safety cages etc. is exactly why the old car couldn't stand up to the new one.

Quote from: FrankieTbird on July 02, 2011, 10:34:58 AM
What's the point? Look at that top view - both cars look pretty messed up. Probably the best thing to do, no matter what kind of car your driving, is don't plow straight on into another vehicle.

The point is that the driver of the newer car would probably walk away with minor injuries while the driver of the older car would probably be killed instantly. Both cars are messed up, but the newer car protects the passenger much better. And the IIHS tests are done this way because people do run into each other.

Maybe you don't want to know how crash-worthy your car is. That's fine with me, but I'd rather know.

Lightyear · July 02, 2011, 11:31:26 AM

Wow! Not surprised at the outcome at all. In 1959 I doubt that any consideration to crash safety was really given in the design of vehicles.

I really make use of the IIHS website when I buy a vehicle and I tend to only consider something highly rated or the absolute highest rating. It's how I settled on buying my daughter a Subaru Forester - highest safety rating, all wheel drive and high reliability.

Denis · July 04, 2011, 02:34:31 PM

Collapsible steering columns didn't appear in American cars until the 1967 model year. A head-on collision in an older car would often send the steering column into the driver, steering wheel first. Yuck. Stuff like this is one of the two biggest reasons I don't own a vintage car any more. I still would like to have one though.

Highlander · July 04, 2011, 03:04:49 PM

Keep the one you got... eventually it will be...

Freuds_Cat · July 04, 2011, 06:06:32 PM

Our guitarist recently had a head on crash with another car on a country road and walked away from it. So did the other guy and his 2 kids. The other guy veered onto Leo's side of the road as he was taking the corner too fast. Both were newish cars. Pretty amazing really.

Hey do they report the car crash death numbers in the US?

edit: found it. 33,808 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2009.

uwe · July 05, 2011, 10:55:50 AM

That is exactly why I lease my Volvos and get a brandnew one every few years - car crash security develops. And I never really felt comfortable in Martina's Jag E, cool car that it was, I knew I'd be dead if someone drove into me. Jag Es are appalling in crash tests.

Bargeon · July 07, 2011, 07:57:11 AM

Quote from: nofi on July 02, 2011, 08:06:30 AM
the 59's right fender came off way to easily. didn't even look bolted on. the left fender and door sheared off easily also. the windshield came out in one piece as well as the sun visors. makes ya' think. i just remember the phony pick up truck explosions that someone (insurance co.)rigged several years ago.

I have no reason to doubt this.
I was around back then and saw, more than once, the results of this kind of collision. Those cars _did_ come apart that easily.

What I saw then that you don't see here is the blood all over the inside of the car. I see that image to this day and it slows me down every time.

Denis: Yeah, that steering column . . .