Air bags,Safety,suv's etc.

[fred smith <smitty@pcrealm.net>]

I thought that I would add my $.02 to the above thread relative to the 
suv safety issue.Last Thanksgiving weekend my wife was driving to Alfred 
N.Y. from our home in Cold Spring N.Y. (on the Hudson River,opposite West 
Point).Just A regular holliday vist with her family.She wanted to use our
'89 Jeep Cherokee because she had some x-mas gifts for them.The intended 
route was NYS #17,a scenic but treacherous 4 lane state road.

Near Nichols N.Y., about three hours into the journey,she hit a patch of
ice after crossing one of the famous curved viaducts on this hi-way.It 
was snowing lightly,no accumulation.Speed 60 mph 3:30 pm.Her brother was 
a passenger in the front seat.She has been to two driving schools and I 
consider her an experinced winter driver.She was unable to gather the car 
back up before it hit a three strand cable guard-rail (damaged earlier in 
the day by another unfortunate).Sliding sideways she hit the cables at 
about the center of the wheel (r/side).Flipped over,rolled about 5 
times.Slid on the roof of the car down an embankment for for a total 
distance travled of 140 ft.All windows broken fiberglass deck lid ripped 
off.Roof rack rail ponched thru the roof.Windshield folded into the car 
due to the partial collapse of the roof.Front tire torn from the rim.

Now get this.NO INJURIES.Stiff neck,yes.Bruised,yes.Psychological damage,
yes.This car had no airbag.The religous use of the seatbelts and the safe 
sorage of loose materials,as well as devine intervention,is what saved 
their lives.A passing trucker that witnessed the accident and was the 
firat on the scene Told me that her speed was not a contributing 
factor.He also said he didn't think the occupants had a chance of walking
away.

The high ground clearance (cg),the Ultra-light steering and the 
previously damaged guard rail(cable?) where definitely all part of
the equation.She now has her own 4kq,with an inch lower suspension.That
does not have an affinity for "leaping over rails" and,given the same 
conditions,would be happy to go "cross lots" with its feet on the ground
should another "off" occour.

There are 4 Audis in our stable at the present time and I wouldn't have 
it any other way.