I am not an engineer...but it does not take much common sense to realize the saftey difference between a 1967 Firebird and a say 2010 Camaro.
I have been in law enforcement since 1988 and have seen my share of accidents. I have seen single 30 year old car 30-40 mph crashes where the car looks repairable, yet the driver died, and a 2008+ car that took a head on at 60 and the car was unrecognizable, yet the driver walked away.
The older cars were tanks, true. Sheet metal was 30% thicker and the cars had little to no plastic in them.
Just like my 1951 Fridgidaire fridge I got for free from a cool guy on Craigslist. Original compressor...never been recharged. [censored] thing froze my keg lines on the lowest setting. Our parents built [censored], and built it to last...unlike today.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
It's all about crush zones, new cars are made to be destroyed in impacts like that. And the people will live(usually). Our cars will transfer all that impact energy right into our bodys and then from there...well, just read above. Sad though.
The first thing the accident investigator did when our bird was hit Dec 09 was check ALL seat belts to ensure they existed and WORKED. Oddly enough I had mine on that day as I always make sure everyone else does, but never used to myself. The 5 ruptured discs that I still have today was most likely caused by a lap belt only according to the accident investigator.
You just never know. The next thing he noticed and asked about were the frame connectors under our bird. He told me right then and there that "those frame connectors quite possibly saved someone's life that night".
This story is sad as it once again marks the end of yet another bird...
They estimate 30-45mph as the road was 100% straight (45MPH speed limit, 55mph prior to approaching bridge), no dips, no curves. A Sheriff had traffic dead stopped as we were waiting for a drawbridge to reopen as it had been lifted for a boat parade.
Banshee, I'll PM you with details once this thing settles. Being in law enforcement I am sure you are curious.
Curious as to the investigator looking for seatbelt installation.
A single point belt offers no significant protection of a 35 mph direct rear end crash pulse, particularly with the seat engineering of the day. Belted or unbelted, the injuries would be very similar, if not identical.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
When she hit us, the keys were found under the driver's seat when the Sheriff attempted to shut the bird's engine off. The cigarette lighter was on the rear deck and my wife's glasses that she had been wearing were found in the grass about 15' to the right side of our car. It was quite an impact to say the least.
Not too mention we then rear ended my friend's 65 Tempest that had just completed a frame off resto a week earlier! Luckily there had been a full car length between us so it helped limit the impact but still did a fair amount of damage to his car.
We were coming home from our car club's Christmas dinner. It was 6:30pm when she hit us! Something I will never forget!
BET YA JASON WAS TEXTING WHEN SOMEONE CROSSED THE CENTER...JUST A THOUGHT.....
Or talking on the stupid cell phone. some people today have that stupid thing glued to their ear. While legal in some states to talk while driving, even that could be distracting.
A sad story. Any small thing we can all do to prevent even one life from ending early is worth it.
It wasn't my intent to forget and or minimize the loss of the individual. It's a scary thought that we can be out for a ride, enjoying our old cars when something like this can happen.
