"The big concern is that large 4WD off-roaders" Not many of those in a BIG city. The biggest hazard in the BIG city is the "Grade-A, still-breathing Idiot". Comes in all age groups and exhibits his or her traits unabashedly and with ultimate disregard for both the civil and the physical laws ... RF Jim "Our ability to manufacture fraud has exceeded our ability to detect it." - Al Pacino as Viktor Taransky in the movie 'Simone' ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jinx" To: Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2002 6:12 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: Gas & taxes (was Online electronics store) > > designed to be stiffer and have less crumple zone protection. A 4Wd > > vehicle will generally not 'fold up" in an accident the same way that a > > car designed to do so will do so. The subsequent difference in peak > > acceleration forces can have a significant effect on outcomes - which > > is why crumple zones exist > > The big concern is that large 4WD off-roaders have a higher impact > zone than "normal" cars. So if you're in a normal family car and get hit > by a large 4WDOR , the chances are that you will come off 2nd best. > The 4WDOR will not meet yours bumper-to-bumper as its are much > higher, but could end up through the windows or riding right over you. > A study last year by the AAA should how badly cars on the receiving > end of attention from 4WDORs fared, and particularly so if those > 4WDORs had bull bars. In a collision these are just battering rams. > As a cyclist my natural instinct is to fear them more than normal traffic, > they're just so big and stinky diesely, but after having riden in a few I > now appreciate the better field of view you get in one. Perhaps in that > regard they're safer > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads