wrecked my truck on sunday... :( **PICS**

[sjp2452]

I can't count how many accidents I've almost had because of that very situation. I've disciplined myself to not even look back over my shoulder until the car in front of me pulls away completely. Once you look back your mind automatically assumes there's nothing in front of you, and only wants to make the merge happen. Dang dude, that sucks bad. Good luck with the repairs & insurance aftermath.

[BeardXXXd]

AIRBAG didnt pop?

[therooster]

Originally Posted by BeardXXXd

AIRBAG didnt pop?

nope... not on either vehicle.

[one-eyed-fatman]

That certainly renews my faith in airbags....

[Son of Norway]

Bummer, man. Looks like you're gonna hafta eat that one. Yikes. Glad you are OK.

Originally Posted by Brickboy240

From the years 1984 through 1993, nobody was killed while riding in a Volvo 240 - that is from Volvo's website.
-Brickboy240

Yeah, who would want to be caught dead in one? :P

[DanaT]

This kinda argument is why I think the USA should adopt a graduated licensing program. All drivers should have to drive a motorcycle for 3 years before they are eligible for a car license. Those who survive, will get to drive a heavier vehicle that can cause more harm to other people.

Why do I say this? Let me start out by saying I am not an SUV hater, I actually drive a Grand Cherokee most of the time and also have an F150. So I know about big vehicles. That said, most SUV (and truck) drivers are dangerous as all get-out (nice term).

I see SUVs and pickups (and even more semis) on the interstate driving 75mph behind a car. They have to go 90 because they are late. To this end they ride up on the butt of another car (again being nice). They are following less than a car length away. Now lets just say that on this particular day they SUV driver is driving "well" and has "adequate following distance of say 4 car lengths (which is rare to see that much distance between vehicles). We will assume 20ft per car, so 80ft.

Lets go with 60mph (nice number for calculations). The SUV is following a car, both traveling 60mph (88ft/sec) and 80 ft apart.

Lets use some numbers here (motor trend is the source). A 2004 F250 is the BEST stopping trick in its class at 150ft 60-0 (unloaded). Now take a simple car, a Mazda 6, and its 60-0 is 121ft. . Take a high end car, 911 GT3, with a stopping distance of 113 ft 60-0.

Now, typical reaction times (if you are looking and/or paying attention; talking on your cell phone will probably negatively affect you reaction time) are around a second.

For this example, we will take the Mazda 6. The family in the Mazda 6 has two small children in the back seat and mom in the front driving along at 60mph. Following "safely" behind is an F250 about 80 feet back. The car has to make an emergency stop. Boom. Brakes are applied and we will assume a nice linear stop at maximum g-force. 121 feet later, the car is stopped. While this car is stopping, the truck see the brake lights and applies the brakes. Typical reaction time is again around a second. So even before the SUV hot the brakes, it has traveled 88ft. Add to that the 150ft stopping distance. Now if the car took 121ft and there was 80 feet between them, then that is 200 feet that the truck has to stop in to avoid the car. But, 88ft traveled in reaction time plus the 150ft to stop is 238 feet. The truck just smashed the car and killed the two kids in the back seat.

Now, lets say the truck was modified by the owner. Bigger tire and a lift kit were put on. Now, it doesn't take much more than high school physics to figure out that a bigger diameter tire creates more torque on the brake rotor reducing the clamping force on the rotor and will increase stopping distance. The lift kit raised the bumper beyond the impact protection beams of the car as mandated by the government. So now the owner has modified a vehicle and could be criminally negligent in a vehicular homicide.

You say "they can't charge me with that for a modified vehicle". Maybe. I can speak for every state, so if you are interested, find the statutes in your state, they are likely very similar to other states.

Anyways, where I live here is the statute for criminally negligent homicide.

"18-3-105. Criminally negligent homicide.
Statute text
Any person who causes the death of another person by conduct amounting to criminal negligence commits criminally negligent homicide which is a class 5 felony.

Now what is define as "criminal negligence"?

Here it is:
"To be guilty of criminally negligent homicide, the defendant must fail to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk that a certain result will occur, and the risk must be of such a nature that the defendant's failure to perceive it constitutes a gross deviation from a reasonable person's standard of care."

So at “best” you killed two children and will get away with it. Most likely if you don’t have enough insurance papa will sue you in civil court, take every worldly possession you have, and you will be working every day for the rest of you life paying the remaining debt to him. Now, if you are negligent (say modified vehicle that is going 20 over the speed limit while talking on you cell phone and pulling you boat behind you humungous pickup), you may just land yourself in prison and get the name “princess”.

Anyways, just so food for thought. Stopping takes a lot more than one thinks.

Now back to motorcycles. Why should everyone ride them before a car. You learn very fast to pay attention and drive defensively. In the original poster’s example, not paying attention (which is what happened, any other explanation is merely and excuse and trying to avoid responsibility) would have probably been the last time he did that.

What set me off on this post is how this is everyone but the original poster’s fault. If the original poster couldn’t stop in time for a hazard the size of a Tahoe, then quite simply he was either following too close or driving too fast for conditions. Either way, it was his fault. The brake lights on the car in front of him worked.

-Dana

[one-eyed-fatman]

This kinda argument is why I think the USA should adopt a graduated licensing program. All drivers should have to drive a motorcycle for 3 years before they are eligible for a car license. Those who survive, will get to drive a heavier vehicle that can cause more harm to other people.

Got that right. I rode motorcycle for 14 years with no problems. Moved to Houston. First year 1000.00 damage to my motorcycle. Next year 1000.00 damage to my motorcycle again. Sold it and covered myself with steel.

[packing_in_la]

One day coming home from work, I was in the left lane of a local highway, doing 40-50 and a kid pulled out in front of me and stalled his car right in front of me. I had nowhere to swerve so all I could do is stomp the brakes. I was in a 1995 Jeep Wrangler, and he was in a chevy caprice. I stopped about 3 feet from him. The guy in the 626 behind me did not. The guy in the 1980's escort behind the 626 did not stop either.

End result, The jeep had no damage, the 626 hit my little steel bumper dead on, and tore up its hood and radiator (no air bag deployment by the way), and the Escort was a total loss. No one was hurt..

[therooster]

Originally Posted by DanaT

This kinda argument is why I think the USA should adopt a graduated licensing program.

what argument?


i agree, licenses are handed out like candy. i know people who cant read english that have a license, i also know people who dont know the traffic laws that have gotten a license.

they are handing out CDLs like candy too.... pisses me off.

[wfrazee]

It could be much worse.

My Accident in december:
http://waynefrazee.com/accident/

if you look at the flash animation, right click on it and turn off loop.

Was lucky to walk away with no more than a broken hand. The other driver got 12 months probation for Carless driving resulting in injury and because he has not handled the insurance claim in good faith, delaying his claim a week and submitting false witnesses.

Our car has been replaced but now we are STILL fighting it out with the insurance to get back our medical bill costs.