The second wreck is the scary one.

One of my main driving disciplines is: Look as far ahead as possible and scan back. Do this constantly. I also check my rear-view mirror and side-mirrors as I scan.

If I’m in heavy traffic on a high-way and see traffic slowing I let the space between me and the car in front open up (hopefully I don’t get the idiots who skate-board from lane to lane hop in).

As the traffic slows I keep my eyes glued to the rear-view mirror to see if the guy/girl behind me is slowing. I’ve never been rear-ended (well, once at a stop sign when we were all stopped and the car behind me rolled into me and tapped my bumper). I think the Idea is lots of space and a Long steady slow down. This is all predicated on my look as far ahead as possible and anticipate way before anything happens.

But, your right. It’s like making love. You can put 12-condoms on, your lover can be on the pill and using a diaphram and you can pull out just before coming, but there is still that statistical chance you’ll be a daddy.

Toejam: I’m glad you haven’t had any wrecks, but you have to admit that luck had some part to play. I just saw 2 wrecks within 2 minutes of each other about a week ago. The first one was the result of both drivers not paying enough attention (btw the 4runner owned the subie in that wreck) and the second one was totally unavoidable by one driver. He did everything right. He didn’t rubberneck, he slowed down and gave the first accident room, and came to a safe stop behind the car in front of him. Then he was hit by a rubbernecker. He saw it coming and had nowhere to go. Luckily both of these accidents were at relatively low speeds, but the SUVs came out ahead against the cars both times. Just one of those physics things.

“The size of the car matters when you have a crash between two cars of different size, height, and weight.”

According to the established las of physics that statement is correct.

BUT,

That’s where Defensive driving and common sense comes into play.

Like going to a knife fight with a Glock those two factors gives the driver of the smaller vehicle the edge.

I seldom drive over the speed limit.

I mostly drive the limit when conditions allow.

I sometimes drive below the speed limit when common sense dictates. (Heavy rain, sleet, snow, heavy traffic)

I use my signals even when there isn’t another car in sight and I stay right on the high-way except to pass.

A car to me is just one expensive pile of metal and plastic. I do P.M. it on the recommend schedule, but I don’r love it. hell, I don’t even like it.

Someone asked me once what car I would buy if I won a couple of million in the lottery.

Geez, I said that’s easy. A Chauffeur driven one!

Call it defensive, prudent or “sissy,girly or what ever” it’s served me well for almost 50-years. Beween military and civilian driving I clocked up beau coup miles. But my number of vehicle accident record remains…………….. ZIPPO!

Three days ago, a Kia Sephia collided with a Honda Accord. All three passangers in the Kia died, while the passangers in the Accord escaped with minor injuries.

1) Generally MOST accidents are preventable AND/OR avoidable.

2) Speed has a lot to do with the occupant’s extent of injuries.

3) SO as with many things in life:

It’s not the size. It’s how you use it!

Obviously some aren’t. I have a friend who has a Fiat Cinquecento (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Cinquecento) which I would not wish to have a crash in.

Especially at US driving speeds people should be ok with small cars. Over here (UK) the average speed tends to be around 80mph.

Just because a car is big it does not make it safe, in exactly the same way if a car is small it does not make it safe! Unless you know exactly how the structure is built, it is very difficult to make any comment on the safety of the car!

“The Plural of Anecdote Is NOT Data”