Been in an accident? - Any lessons learnt?

[Claymore]

Did anyone say having ABS justifies driving faster? No
Did anyone say it justifies being able to drive closer to the car in front? No
Are the general public driving on gravel, dirt or snow? No

So what exactly is the point you are trying to make? I've seen stats that show ABS vehicles have a 20% reduction in injury, and 40% reduction in fatality. And even your link says "the average driver will stop quicker with ABS." What are you even arguing?

Take a look at this:
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/crash-avoidance-technologies/qanda#antilock-brakes

The IIHS has probably the best and most comprehensive data in the world on vehicle accidents and safety.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

-

- Pedestrian killed in 4 ways. He ran straight through a traffic jam in the other lane, straight into oncoming traffic and I hit him doing about 100.
Lesson? Stay your pedestrian ass off of main roads. I hit you it's your fault.

Sheesh......
Culpable homicide charge against yourself?
What was it like afterwards? When that taxi genius hit me, i was so scared i killed somebody! Id never be able to sleep afterwards.....

Luckily nobody killed by my driving! Even by his fault.....

 

[SauRoNZA]

Unfortunately not.

Airbags go off regardless.

See here: http://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=103883

Badly maintained or faulty airbags will go off due to the impact.

Not related to the seatbelt at all.

They (front airgags) shouldn't be going off with no seatbelt on as they will kill you. It's a safety feature that they DO NOT go off if no seatbelt is worn.

Side and curtain airbags are a different story and I'm sure won't be universal from one car to another.

 

[Kix]

Badly maintained or faulty airbags will go off due to the impact.

Not related to the seatbelt at all.

They (front airgags) shouldn't be going off with no seatbelt on as they will kill you. It's a safety feature that they DO NOT go off if no seatbelt is worn.

Side and curtain airbags are a different story and I'm sure won't be universal from one car to another.

Did you even bother to read the last post in that thread?

 

[Kal86]

I know for a fact that front airbags in Mercedes Benz do not go off unless your safety belt is on, as Sauron said they will kill you. They work hand in hand with your seatbelt. Again, faulty airbags will pop in an accident regardless of a seat belt being worn ornot

 

[SauRoNZA]

Did you even bother to read the last post in that thread?

Yes, it means nothing.

A FRONT airbag will kill you if deployed without a seat belt.

Like I said in my own post some of the other airbags might deploy independently depending on manufacturer.

When we have this discussion we are referring to cars in the here and now, going on market today.

Not cars from 10 years ago which will have faulty airbags by now anyway if they weren't serviced.

 

[Rouxenator]

Old airbags : http://www.streetfire.net/video/243-fifth-gear-old-airbag-test_178551.htm

 

[Foxhound5366]

On the whole ABS vs without ABS debate, I think this video from Bosch (the maker of numerous vehicle OEMs' ABS systems) is very clear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKiTAcXK6M4 (you can skip the first minute of intro if you want)

For a less commercial explanation with typical Fifth Gear style, this is worth the watch for the difference between ABS, Traction Control and ESP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-hHWSQhKuc

Now why would you seriously want to buy a cheaper car without those systems installed?

Disclaimer: for the record my humble hatchback (a Citroen C3) has ABS but does NOT have ESP, because that was (typically) only available on the top-range model and I could only afford up to the mid-range model (which I went for primarily because it at least has four airbags rather than just two). Moral of the story: I understand if you cannot afford the technology, but I don't understand if you don't think you need it. Also, I wish that SA vehicle OEMs would start importing proper European-spec vehicles, not vehicles with all the 'nice to haves' but none of the 'must haves' like these safety technologies!

 

[Rouxenator]

For me ABS is a requirement. Airbags are in 2nd place and ESP 3rd.

 

[adinfinitum]

+1
Also pay a bit more and get tyres with better roadholding. My life is more important than saving a few bucks.

 

[Neo_X]

Maybe someone can correct me, but ABS would have helped in the following situation?

Was driving one of the work pickups (Toyota 2.3 Liter something something - but quite sure no ABS). With my luck, some rain fell on the return journey from a customer, lightly wetting the highway. my following distance was relatively ok, but when the guys in front of me stopped, the following happend :
* i immediately stepped onto the brakes (note - didnt have the reaction/sense to pulse my braking peddle rather)
* bakkie immediately went into a skid - slowly slowing down - luckily the road was straight. (nope it wasnt aquaplane - almost now water on the road)
* starting to get closer to the cars in front of me, i then twisted the steering right (i was in the right lane, and all other lanes had cars)
* due to the skid - steering had no effect (suprise number one... yes physics should have told me this before, but real life didnt teach me it up to now)
* cars was getting real close - eg i feel the bumper bash coming up
* then at the last moment - cars in front start to move, and, the bakkie goes from skidding to normal grip
* only problem is - steering was still turned, thus, immediate swipe to the right, causing me to hit the barrier (ramping a little , and damaging front a right a little. I was still able to drive away from this - however a bit rattled.



so yes lesson learned is that in the wet, follow distance is even more important.
can anyone hint if ABS would have given better control on steering/braking?

 

[Foxhound5366]

Yes Neo. ABS prevents the wheels from locking up, so it gives you the optimum balance of braking AND steering in an emergency situation like that.

Just fyi, if that happens to you again, you could just release the brakes to regain steering control and steer around the obstacle instead.

This is where an advanced driving course on a skidpan is great, because they demonstrate exactly that.

 

[Rouxenator]

Had a minibus taxi drive into my back at about 30~40km. Having a bullbar is left some scratches and marks on my bumper. I now have a towbar and await the next suckafool not paying attention in traffic.

 

[Neo_X]

Yes Neo. ABS prevents the wheels from locking up, so it gives you the optimum balance of braking AND steering in an emergency situation like that.

Just fyi, if that happens to you again, you could just release the brakes to regain steering control and steer around the obstacle instead.

This is where an advanced driving course on a skidpan is great, because they demonstrate exactly that.

Thx - thought as much. As for the advanced driving course - yes it maybe teaches that, but if its not applied regularly , how are you supposed to remember to apply it in an emergency? those few seconds it is normally just a adrenaline rush to survive -and in my case to avoid dooming a company car

 

[Cyborg]

if you can afford it - get a dash cam. Mine was invaluable in showing fault when a guy shot through a red on a deserted road and hit me causing 70k damage.

He was quite adamant that I was the one at fault. I quietly submitted the video to my insurance and their legal team showed him otherwise .

 

[Jase]

My first I was a youngster ... taught me to always look left and right after the lights turn green. The second was a rear end at a traffic light, taught me to check my rear view mirror after I stop for idiots who fail to see the car in front of them stopping (even when said vehicle is coated in reflective stripes and has a shiny red bar mounted to the roof). The last one taught me that out of order traffic lights does not constitute a 4 way stop for everyone.

I have one cardinal rule on the road, everyone around me are ijits so expect them to do something idiotic.

 

[Fudzy]

When joining a motorway, make sure the car in front of you has gone before you try to merge while looking over your shoulder.

 

[HumanShield]

When joining a motorway, make sure the car in front of you has gone before you try to merge while looking over your shoulder.

This^

I had too many close calls with this when merging.

 

[Necropolis]

When joining a motorway, make sure the car in front of you has gone before you try to merge while looking over your shoulder.

Had my first accident like this - was at a slip road not joining a highway - but the same principal applies.

 

[Claymore]

For me ABS is a requirement. Airbags are in 2nd place and ESP 3rd.

For me, I will never buy another car without ESP; it's saved me from at least three crashes. Having ESP means you have ABS automatically.