Small car safety problems: It's physics, stupid

NN&V ^ | 5/20/09 | Nuke

[grandpa jones]

Obama's plan to put everyone in high-mileage vehicles by 2016 is much like any utopian dream. The goals are noble -- saving the planet, reducing fuel consumption, yada, yada, yada...

BUT, as with most liberal fantasies, it is the unintended consequences that come back to haunt us.

In this case, it is the safety issue. This CBS video report from the Insurance Institute should sound a warning to everyone.

[grandpa jones]

video at link

[theDentist]

I'd heard that with these new cars in mind, some 2500 more people per year would die, and 3 times that suffer significant injuries in event of an accident.

But I guess Obama can live with that. Can you?

[Fred Hayek]

The laws of physics means nothing, now that we have the Mew Scientific Method of Trofim Lysenko. Yes, Lysenko has been re-habilitated, and his methods are being applied to such cutting edge fields as climatolgy, alternatie energy, economics, and education. Physical evidence no longer applies, only the correct political frame of reference is admissible in the debate.

[Harold Shea]

Man.that “Smart” car had some real air time there

Those things look dangerous out in traffic,and the
people I see driving them seem tense behind the wheel

[grandpa jones]

obama won’t be driving one of these death-traps.

[grandpa jones]

"Physical evidence no longer applies, only the correct political frame of reference is admissible in the debate."

That sounds like Rush doing his politically correct NFL picks.

Life imitates Limbaugh again!

[ravingnutter]

[grandpa jones]

Man.that “Smart” car had some real air time there

Obama gave it a 10, but the East German judge gave it a 6.

[freespirited]

Obama’s personal vehicle in Chicago was a Chrysler 300!

[grandpa jones]

makes for a good pimpmobile

[southlake_hoosier]

Chrysler 300

The Urban Assualt Vehicle of choice.

[ravingnutter]

[newfreep]

More rulings and edicts from Dear Leader Obey-Me.

I do wonder if the very small Indy cars can survive 150mph crashes, why can't that technology be in our cars, big & small?

[Niteranger68]

Man.that “Smart” car had some real air time there Those things look dangerous out in traffic,and the people I see driving them seem tense behind the wheel

If you slam on the brakes, will the thing start rolling like a ball?

[Natural Law]

The disingenuous politicians are selling the new mileage standards as a cost savings because gas consumption will decrease. With less gas consumed, assuming that driving habits do not change, there will be less gas tax revenue. Does anyone think that your state or federal government will not raise the gas tax or impose a mileage tax to compensate for the revenue short fall? Does anyone want to guess what will happen to insurance rates when more people are badly injured due to flimsy vehicles?

[ravingnutter]

[Dixie Yooper]

Obama’s personal vehicle in Chicago was a Chrysler 300!

His personal vehicle in Washington D.C. is even bigger.

[jersey117]

But I guess Obama can live with that. Can you?

This is where we can win the fight. Republicans need to do some PR and some leg work. Get out to those suburban moms and seniors -- ask them if they will feel comfortable putting their loved ones in a small compact car to go up against tractor trailers on the interstate.

[freespirited]

His personal vehicle in Washington D.C. is even bigger.

Excellent point, and he now travels with a big fleet of eight cylinder gas guzzlers.

[Tammy8]

Do not fret, we are going to have socialized medicine to take care of all the extra wreck victims. I tell you that Obama has thought of everything!