Old car crashes & deaths vs new car crashes & deaths

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Richie

Richie

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Hi everybody:

This thought just came in from the blue a second ago. Sure there were a lot of crashes back in the day with these old cars but when I think of it I can't think of one death from the people I knew back then. I'm sure folks in here are different though. One of my Nieces just lost a friend in a car accident a few months back. Maybe these kids now think there's now way they'll be hurt in these new things with all this safety equipment. I know one thing. There's a heck of a lot more drugs out there now to make you do goofball things.
 
I'm sure there will be someone that will disagree but new cars as much as I despise them for a lot of reasons are ridiculously more safer than cars from the 50's 60's and 70's
 
I just thought of one but I hated his guts so there you go. I think it was early 70s in a Chevelle. He use to beat on me in school.
 
'68cuda416 said:
I'm sure there will be someone that will disagree but new cars as much as I despise them for a lot of reasons are ridiculously more safer than cars from the 50's 60's and 70's
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Yup. The cars are designed to take the impact, rather than transferring it to the passengers.
 
My Dad and Aunt were killed in a 1968 4 door Newport in 1978 They were hit head on by a 1975 Monte Carlo. My Aunt was killed instantly , My Dad died from a punctured heart and lungs caused by broken ribs from hitting the steering wheel. In a modern car I feel they both would have survived PROVIDED they were wearing seat belts AND the air bags deployed. Their car was crushed in to a 2 door , it literally broke the 383 and 727 apart , the other driver walked away.

Don't fool yourself modern cars are way safer in MOST accidents. I don't mean a SMART (DUMBASS) car either?? LOL
 
the cars handle better now and have HP. people who cant necessarily drive can now get overconfident and screw up at high speeds, in the old cars you had to know how to drive and certainly how to slide the car around a corner at high speed OR you didnt drive too fast .Just my opinion.:)
 
RustyRatRod said:
Yup. The cars are designed to take the impact, rather than transferring it to the passengers.
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new cars "break apart" and the airbags save the passengers from the trauma from hitting the dash and steering wheel. the older cars were more rigid, but the passengers got thrown around inside the cabin. I agree that modern cars absorb more but I beleive the older ones were more rigid, however when I think back to cars ive wrecked from the early 70s,they bent up like beer cans...
 
Dartswinger70 said:
the cars handle better now and have HP. people who cant necessarily drive can now get overconfident and screw up at high speeds, in the old cars you had to know how to drive and certainly how to slide the car around a corner at high speed OR you didnt drive too fast .Just my opinion.:)
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They only have HP now a days because they have power adders and even some of them aren't really impressive and for the ones that don't have a power adder with the added weight of modern cars they are not impressive compared to genuine muscle car era cars.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
new cars "break apart" and the airbags save the passengers from the trauma from hitting the dash and steering wheel. the older cars were more rigid, but the passengers got thrown around inside the cabin. I agree that modern cars absorb more but I beleive the older ones were more rigid, however when I think back to cars ive wrecked from the early 70s,they bent up like beer cans...
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HUH????? Do you read what you write before you hit send????? The new cars break apart???? Hmmmmm that's odd....only you and I can guarantee only you forever would ever say such a thing, and the old cars were more rigid??? The old cars had no crush zones built into them like the modern cars do and that is why the old cars wad up like a smashed soda can. You may not want to continue replying and just read and try to learn something.
 
Dartswinger70 said:
new cars "break apart" and the airbags save the passengers from the trauma from hitting the dash and steering wheel. the older cars were more rigid, but the passengers got thrown around inside the cabin. I agree that modern cars absorb more but I beleive the older ones were more rigid, however when I think back to cars ive wrecked from the early 70s,they bent up like beer cans...
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If you think airbags do it all, you're mistaken. New cars implement "cages" of their own design built right into the car's unibody itself. The Smart Car is glaring proof of that.
 
I don’t like the way some of the new ones come apart, they peal like a big banana. I saw pictures of a charger that hit a pillar and the car split in three peace’s with the sides not taking any of the impact just breaking from the center, and the engine about 200 feet in front of the vehicle. The center of the car was crushed back severely.
 
Oldiron440 said:
I don’t like the way some of the new ones come apart, they peal like a big banana. I saw pictures of a charger that hit a pillar and the car split in three peace’s with the sides not taking any of the impact just breaking from the center, and the engine about 200 feet in front of the vehicle. The center of the car was crushed back severely.
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Even with how bad of an impact you just described you do realize it would have been 10 times worse same scenario with a 69 Charger?
 
I drive a lot for my job. Although today’s cars are much safer, people tend to drive much faster and make very fast, knee jerk reactions. Honestly surprised more people aren’t killed just by their lack of attention while driving.
 
Oldiron440 said:
I don’t like the way some of the new ones come apart, they peal like a big banana. I saw pictures of a charger that hit a pillar and the car split in three peace’s with the sides not taking any of the impact just breaking from the center, and the engine about 200 feet in front of the vehicle. The center of the car was crushed back severely.
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I think I've seen pictures of that same wreck. If it's the same one, that car was travelling in excess of 130mph. That'll tear up anything short of a nascar race car and won't do them any good.
 
pauly said:
I drive a lot for my job. Although today’s cars are much safer, people tend to drive much faster and make very fast, knee jerk reactions. Honestly surprised more people aren’t killed just by their lack of attention while driving.
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The cars are quicker and faster. Just look at the horsepower ratings. They are all NET horsepower now, back during the height of the muscle wars, horsepower was measured gross. It's nothing now to be able to get a 600hp car and that's NET. The gross rating would be close to 1000.
 
Today cars are designed better to deflect and absorb impact forces. Let alone seat belt usage is WAY up today.

I thought about this. There is alot of open air space to older cars for added impact panels? Panels of honeycomb materials that could make them even safer than today's? Including modulated air bags installations?

I know this is blasphemy of classic car ownership and appreciation. But certainly possible. Where the heavier steel construction could be an asset. Rather than a negative without defection designs.

Just thinking out loud.
 
cojohnso said:
Today cars are designed better to deflect and absorb impact forces. Let alone seat belt usage is WAY up today.

I thought about this. There is alot of open air space to older cars for added impact panels? Panels of honeycomb materials that could make them even safer than today's? Including modulated air bags installations?

I know this is blasphemy of classic car ownership and appreciation. But certainly possible. Where the heavier steel construction could be an asset. Rather than a negative without defection designs.

Just thinking out loud.
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I'm saying this with no disrespect but know on no other way to say this......your thought is fine but that thought is WAY OVER 100% of this board and 99.999% of the entire population.......what you are talking about is serious re-engineering and having the smarts to MAKE WORK what you are thinking in your head. Congrats on the thought though but it will never ever happen
 
Im suprises there are not retrofit air bag steering wheels sold for classics. Sure they would look stupid but ine accident would make you a believer. I think the collapsible steering column is a no brainer , can retrofit one with no visible changes.
 
'68cuda416 said:
I'm saying this with no disrespect but know on no other way to say this......your thought is fine but that thought is WAY OVER 100% of this board and 99.999% of the entire population.......what you are talking about is serious re-engineering and having the smarts to MAKE WORK what you are thinking in your head. Congrats on the thought though but it will never ever happen
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I agree it's a go nowhere idea. But when building a classic for racing? There is consideration for impact survivability. Cage and even fire suppression in higher performance builds. Adding defection panels doesn't require a redesign. Like right behind the bumpers? It's certainly possible.

But is there a market for street? Probably not.
 
It's a simple thing to do really. Be a good drive and know your vehicle's limit. That will keep you out of well over 90% of accidents.
 
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