Smart car crash fatally injures driver in UK

[Jimbo]

Either way, he sure picked a pretty setting to end it all, eh wot!

[SmartBob]

Originally Posted by spdickey

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle3097645.ece



Did he go nuts before or after buying the smart?

If before, does that show that only the homicidal and suicidally deranged blokes buy smart cars?

If after purchase, did he go bonkers because it was perhaps a red car that turned out to be more tomatoe soup than fire engine? Or was it due to the transmission lurching between first and second gears?

Perhaps because he was stocky and couldn't fit in the car?

He must have been insane since Mr Goswell didn't use his Mercedes sports car or the new Ferrari to commit his suicide. He chose, instead, the smart which would have protected him according to all the MB research.

Dickey, you crack me up!

[Carnut]

Oh well, different "strokes" . . . .

;)

[smarties]

Cars dont kill people, trees do.

[smartRRparts]

As pointed out in many crash test videos, the human body can't withstand the deceleration from high speeds to zero in an instant. This is true if you buy an F250 truck or a smart. The car itself absorbs the energy through crash boxes and crumple zones. A driver with suicidal intentions wouldn't have a seatbelt on and would have succeeded his mission in the largest of vehicles. This article says little of smart safety and more of a lunatic's episode.

[Twojjs]

Fairly noteworthy article regarding the Smart car and safety, I agree with the section concerning …�There is no such thing as a 100% safe automobile and automobile safety is a very complex.�

"Smart Cars of America believes that an educational phase and an informative course of action, along with dealer input and manufactures data can reassure the American driving public that when the Smart Fortwo goes on sale here it will be one of the safer small cars available." "Driver and passenger protection depends on the car's structure, its occupant restraints and related protection devices working together as a built-in system."

[08-4-2]

Gang, I think were on our way to a new forum low ...

What do you think about starting a new thread on safety to de-couple this tragedy from car talk?

[SmartBob]

I think we did manage to re-direct this thread and safety will be an issue till the car proves itself in the U.S. I believe in the car but more so in defensive driving. Do not subscribe to the large vehicle strategy of "mine is too big to be dangerous to me - I'm safe" to one of "What can I do to avoid accidents altogether". Be alert at all times, expect the unexpected, no hand held phones, slow down a bit (5 over the speed limit is acceptible and fast enuff), DO look both ways into intersections and watch for red runners, etc..... My 2 cents.