Posted on 05/11/2013 9:17:34 PM PDT by Olog-hai
The cars roll endlessly off the local assembly lines of the industrys biggest automakers, more than 10,000 a day, into the eager hands of Brazils new middle class. The shiny new Fords, Fiats, and Chevrolets tell the tale of an economy in full bloom that now boasts the fourth largest auto market in the world.
What happens once those vehicles hit the streets, however, is shaping up as a national tragedy, experts say, with thousands of Brazilians dying every year in auto accidents that in many cases shouldnt have proven fatal.
The culprits are the cars themselves, produced with weaker welds, scant safety features and inferior materials compared to similar models manufactured for U.S. and European consumers, say experts and engineers inside the industry. Four of Brazils five bestselling cars failed their independent crash tests.
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Brazilian drivers arent a “walk in the park” either.
Considering the madness of Brazilian drivers the cars may need to be Main Battle Tanks to bring the death toll down..... Well that would introduce other issues....
Why does that NOT surprise me?
Eutopia is expensive. Once Brazil’s capitalism has advanced to a state where it can afford the safest cars, no doubt it will have them. For now it will have cars that are as safe as American and European cars were in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
There’s a darwinian aspect to less-than-perfectly-safe vehicles weeding out the most dangerous drivers that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Oh that is the truth. I have one living on my block and every time he pulls into or out of his driveway you would think his foot and entire leg had spasmed on the accelerator pedal. I’m positively amazed that his garage is still standing.
Ha, “Chinese-made” is all you need to know. I recall one Chinese crash test video on youtube that was so horrific that the test engineers were just laughing out loud. I think that was the same one where the front wheel ends up under what’s left of the dummy’s thighs.
They've gotten a BIT better in Sao Paulo these days... since they installed radar speed cameras about every 1/4 mile on virtually every road.
They still have a problem with the concept of "lanes" though.. :-(
E.g., Embraer. There are a lot of its products aloft over the USA at any given time.
I’ve flown in the ERJ myself, so I can attest to their airworthiness.
Are Brazilian cars made with a loose nut behind the steering wheel?
Or are those installed as aftermarket accessories, like they are here?
In that Utopia where everyone drives reasonably and politely, there would be no road accidents.
Too bad they usually take the innocent with them.
While also taking out a random innocent bystander.
LOL... The last time we travelled "South" was Colombia. We hired a driver for our family. I knew I was over my head from what I've seen before. What impresses me is how over the years we've seen the city drivers go from old beat up cars to nice, new compact vehicles. An impressive turnaround and sign of progress.
I'm glad to hear about Sao Paulo getting better. Had a lot of fun there, especially during carnaval. We stayed in Praia Grande but ranged from the city, Mongugua to Itaquitanduva (near Santos) which was a heck of a fun hike over a mud covered mountain.
If the trail is wet, you go up branco but arrive at the beach moreno - LOL! The trail is through the jungle. I saw the biggest spider I ever saw in my life at the head of the trail. I dubbed it a "Brasilian Turbo Spider". The dang thing had racing stripes. I was more astonished by that "living special effect" than the mind numbing poverty of the favela we walked through to get there!
More than once driving to and from the city, my buddy had individual bikers threatened to shoot him on the road while he was driving me through heavily congested traffic. The motorcycles cutting through the traffic like Kamikazees were setting off everyone. There didn't seem to be any rules or concerned about getting hit, although I'm pretty sure it happened frequently. I'd be great to think they've settled down.
LOL...the area South of where we used to live in Boca Raton turned into "Little Brasil". I miss the padarias and churrascarias, but man, I can pass on them bringing their city driving style!
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