Re: Air bags,Safety,suv's etc.

[Ralph Poplawsky <ralphp@cellport.com>]

At 09:07 AM 9/26/97 -0700, you wrote:
>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.
>
Your wife is blessed.  The founder of Cray Computer (Seymore Cray) flipped
his Cherokee in Colorado Springs, the roof caved in over him and he died.
We used to have a Cherokee and I feel lucky as my wife is not a great driver. 

Ralph Poplawsky
'91 200TQ
'95 Volvo 850T