Tragic car crash - not Vibe related

[IMakeVibes]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/5533423/detail.html Grief counselors and teachers at two Petaluma high schools braced for a very difficult day Wednesday after a car crash killed four students and left two others with serious injuries.Authorities said that two teenagers were killed in the crash and another two died of their injuries overnight. California Highway Patrol Sgt. Wayne Ziese said two other teenagers in the green 1996 Ford Taurus involved in the accident were critically injured.Thats just a summary of an accident that happened in the Bay Area a couple of days ago. Is it just me, or does hearing stories like that bother others as well? I didn't know anybody involved, so its not personal. Its more symbolic for me. Just knowing that four lives were cut so short for apparently no reason. Unfortunately, it seems as if this repeats itself several times a year throughout the Bay Area and I know this happens somewhere in this country just about everyday. The specifics of course are different, but the end result always seems to be the same. Lives ending tragically far too soon and so many families and friends left to grief.

[Mavrik]

It is very sad to hear stuff like this happening. Even when its to people I do not know. I find it kind of sad driving along and seeing those shrines on the side of the road...

[ColonelPanic]

That's always sad to hear. It is horrible to see lives go at such an early age.Not too long ago, one poor family in Kentucky got hit with a double-whammy...Two brothers were killed in two separate accidents within 15 minutes of each other. http://www.nydailynews.com/fro....html

[Stang2Vibe]

These are sad occurances. But I guess there is a lesson to be learned here. Don't blow a stop sign when a box truck is coming at you at 50 MPH.Incidentally, about 40,000 people die every year in the U.S. in car crashes. Somehow that number has remained about the same even since the days before airbags, ABS, and vehicle stability control systems. We went from the big 2 1/2 ton tanks with no safety devices in them except for padded dashboards and collapsable steering wheels to our little 1 ton egg crates on wheels with all the bells, whistles, gadgets, and gizmos in the name of safety and crash related deaths are still about the same. >

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Stang2Vibe »Incidentally, about 40,000 people die every year in the U.S. in car crashes. Somehow that number has remained about the same even since the days before airbags, ABS, and vehicle stability control systems. We went from the big 2 1/2 ton tanks with no safety devices in them except for padded dashboards and collapsable steering wheels to our little 1 ton egg crates on wheels with all the bells, whistles, gadgets, and gizmos in the name of safety and crash related deaths are still about the same. >Yes, but I wonder how the greater number of vehicles on the road and the longer distances they are being driven factor into this? If the rates have remained steady and not gone upward despite the increased number of people out and about, that shows that the safety devices are helping...

[Mavrik]

well... look at the numbers this way.Say 10-15 years ago... (off the top of my head...) 500,000 people were driving cars.. 40,000 of those died in car related deaths.Now today... 5,000,000 people are driving and with all the modern tech safety devices on cars... only 40,000 of that 5,000,000 people driving lost their lives in car related deaths. I'd say we have seen a good outcome here. We all know more people are driving these days then 10-15 years ago. So 40,000 people (though a bad thing) is still better then what it could be.

[Stang2Vibe]

Now that I think more about it, you and CP are right. An increase in the population overall as well as the driving population leads to a steep increase in the number of cars on the roads. But let us not forget that as safety characteristics of the vehicles themselves have increased, so have those of the roadways as well. Newer barriers, guardrails, traffic control devices, etc. have surely contributed positively to automotive safety as well.As for the actual numbers of drivers, I would have to think that 5 million is a very low number. The entire population of the US is about 310 million, and I would think that it is more fair to say that about half of that number are registered motorists of some sort. Assuming about 155 million motorists and comparing that to 40,000 annual deaths only makes your point even more dramatic.I have no doubt that cars of the past decade are far safer than those of 30-40 years ago, simple physics assessments can easily prove that. But looking at why the death total hasn't declined despite the vast improvments in safety shows why that is. With many more cars on the road and many more drivers (and passengers for the matter), it's amazing that the death count hasn't gone up. I have to agree all around that safety has vastly improved on American roads. Now I just have to compile all this information and request a discount from my insurance company .

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by Stang2Vibe »Now that I think more about it, you and CP are right. *falls over dead**prints this out to mount on a plaque*j/k

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by Stang2Vibe »I have no doubt that cars of the past decade are far safer than those of 30-40 years ago, simple physics assessments can easily prove that.No doubt about that... But in the present, day in and day out I hear people talking about those little "tin cans" that self destruct when they're in a wreck... Of course, that's kinda sorta, maybe just a little what they're supposed to do. Back in the day when people were in an accident, they could just clean the blood out and sell the car again. The people died, not the car, and thankfully it is working in the opposite direction now.

[vibebob]

not to sound like one upmanship, I read an article on CNN last week that in Kentucky, two brothers died in seperate auto accidents within 15 minutes of each other, one was 21 the other 23. one sad fact is their dad drove by the 23y/o's accident on the way to the 21 yo's and didn't know his first son was in that accident.

[northvibe]

sad young drivers need more practice i think, 16 is to young NOW days for most teenagers, or just have more hours behind the wheel with parents and instructor.on a side note thats a 92-95 taurus gl, 96 was the rounded look.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by vibebob »not to sound like one upmanship, I read an article on CNN last week that in Kentucky, two brothers died in seperate auto accidents within 15 minutes of each other, one was 21 the other 23. one sad fact is their dad drove by the 23y/o's accident on the way to the 21 yo's and didn't know his first son was in that accident.That was horrible. I have a link to one article I found about it above. Those are far beyond "freak" accidents! I can't imagine how bad the father must feel about losing BOTH sons the same way and completely separate! If it was both in one accident, that is one thing, but both in two accidents so close together? Very sad.

[Stang2Vibe]

I always think that too when someone brings this up, but you can't explain this to an ignoramous.> "I remember, back in the day, cars were really built. Not like these throw-away matchbox cars we have today. Yeah, those were the days." >You mean the days when after a car put on 60,000 miles it was time to junk it and buy a new one? Or do you mean the days when they came with no warranty and any repairs and maintenance were your full responsibility starting on day one of ownership. If not, then you must mean the days when all cars used leaded gasoline so everywhere you went, you and your children were all breathing in lead fumes. No wonder those folks don't get it. The lead fumes ate their brains. lol . Yeah, what wonderful times. Not to mention no seat belts, no safety glass, no A/C (at least not for the "common folk"), primitive heating and defrosting systems, and largely inadequate braking capability. Gee, where have all the good times gone?The only thing that many of those cars had over most cars of today are straight-line performance and overall looks. I feel that few cars today come close to the beauty and style that cars had "back in the day", but when it comes down to it, all the beauty and style in the world won't save your life in an accident.As for the idea of self-destructing tin can cars like you mention, we are now at least 25 years since the advent of widespread use of "crumple zones" yet many people still do not understand the concept. They want their cake and to eat it too. A car that protects occupants upon impact, yet sustains little or no damage. I have a suggestion. Make the biggest rubber bouncy-ball in the world, stick 4 wheels and a steering wheel on it, and happy motoring! They don't seem to understand that the cars today are engineered to absorb the energy of an impact so that the human bodies inside it have less of that energy to absorb themselves. For those who are more mathematically minded, try this equation: more impact energy absorbed by the vehicle = you get a better chance to live after the impact.Ok, I'm done ranting on this, I promise! (Am I doing better CP? How many word processor pages is this one? )

[Stang2Vibe]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »sad young drivers need more practice i think, 16 is to young NOW days for most teenagers, or just have more hours behind the wheel with parents and instructor.I don't know what the requirements are to get licensed in MN, but about 2 yrs ago, PA changed the rules for young beginner drivers. If you are under 18, you must have a junior license for at least 6 months before you can take your driver's exam and you have to keep a logbook and log (I forget how many hours) with a licensed parent/guardian and the parent/guardian must certify that those hours are true and accurate. We keep improving safety, improving driving skills across the board, and so on, but I still don't see my insurance rates dropping!

[mcgusto82]

i think we know too little about this accident. getitng t-boned at 55 is pretty bad of an accident , but not enought to kill all those people on impact. that car does seem to be a 95 and below taurus. i think the 93 was the first year for side beams for the taurus. maybe those kids weren't wearing seatbelts. all the airbags and side beams can't save you without seatbelts.i also think it's too easy to get license. in VA, driver's ed is part of the 10th grade curricullum. then you also have to have 30hrs of driving with an instructor.in NY, a 8 hr video, then a practical test that last less than 10 minutes. i rememebr when i did it. we went around a secluded neighbohood.but then again who am i to talk, i was driving at 14. my parents had me running errands. i think it helped me become a better driver. i was soo scared that i developed safety as a habbit.

[IMakeVibes]

Quote, originally posted by Stang2Vibe »These are sad occurances. But I guess there is a lesson to be learned here. Don't blow a stop sign when a box truck is coming at you at 50 MPH.Nobody said they ran the stop sign. That was one thing being looked at though. This was at a T intersection. They were turning left onto what I guess could be called a rural highway. The speed limit is 50 on the road they were turning onto. Apparently they went into the road then stopped . . . maybe to let traffic coming from the right go by and didin't see the truck coming from the left.The driver was 18, but only licnesed for a few months. Lack of experience might have played a role in it. Quote, originally posted by mcgusto82 »i think we know too little about this accident. getitng t-boned at 55 is pretty bad of an accident , but not enought to kill all those people on impact. that car does seem to be a 95 and below taurus. i think the 93 was the first year for side beams for the taurus.maybe those kids weren't wearing seatbelts. all the airbags and side beams can't save you without seatbelts.Well, there were six people in there and only five seatbelts, so atleast one wasn't wearing a seatbelt. The car was hit on the left and both survivors were on the far right side - front and back.

[northvibe]

my sister was t-boned in my car, with her boyfriend (my 96 sable ls) where the speed limit was 40, it was her fault. but the person hit her right in the middle post, the passanger seat was moved 5 inches over and side was pushed in maybe a foot, but she was hit by a little car, driven by a younger drive also, i think he had slowed down a litle to 30mph or so. but they were hit by a big truck going 50, so much more inertia, and hitting that car which would be roughly 0mph in the same direction. I can see the damage it caused. there are 6 seatbelts in taurus, the front middle is only a lap belt though, same with the rear middle. i would say that the only ones to survive would be the opposite side of the hit like that.

[mcgusto82]

yeah, my wife's ex ford taurus was a 6 belt car. there is the option for a 3 seat bench in front.

[TRDman]

Here in Ohio we have 50 hours of driving with somone over 18, the "wonderfully helpful" driving classes, and then a "rigorous" test. The experience idea (you must have 6 months of driving behind you to get the license) isn't a bad one, but at least where I go to school (I am a new driver-1.5 years) we've had WAY too many crashes in a year. You can see why though; our parking lot's a demolition derby wannabe after school ends and you see people with no experience speeding, egregiously, everywhere.