What airbags

[mriz]

Just thinking back when I took my stepson who was 17 at the time for the first ride in the 77Z. He got in and asked wheres the airbag and abs system? He didn't seem comfortable knowing that if I hit something it was just air between him and the dash minus the bag. And if I lock up the brakes, they be locked .I looked at him the same way I did when he went down the side of my car with his bike handelbars at 5. I explained to him that back in the day the only safety equipment was the horn and brake pedal ,and somtimes even the steering wheel if your hands weren't covering your face in a moment of terror. Even did the when I was growing up...... thing. He just seems to have the attitude that an airbag and abs will keep him alive no matter what happens. I just think the industry gives these kids a bit too much false security in the advertising . Won't listen to me and he's on the road next month. Maybe if Billramsy gave him a talking to hmmm..... My .02.

[TomoHawk]

That's a good analogy. Some people just can't relate to the simpler times before microprocessor-controlled everything. Same people priobably can't add numbers without a calculator. Or maybe buy gas without a credit card. That's too bad.

Like it was said, ABS and airbags makes kids think that they're 'protected?' so they can drive like maniacs, which is when they find out ( when the car is upside-down) that's not really how it is.

You might remind him that stock cars don't have air bags or ABS. Nor motorcycles or powerboats. There's a thread here somewhere explaining that ABS isn't something that keeps you from locking up the brakes- something like that.

thx

[beandip]

In the same vane. The police just arrested a 19 yr old about 10 days ago for going 142 MPH in his Honda Civic. On the freeway in Portland . When asked why , he just shrugged and said '' I just wanted to see how fast it would go" when asked what about endangering others. He said '' no one would get hurt other than mabey me '' . I don't know what the fine is but I heard it was $6K and could be time . There has been comintary since to make it forfiture of car if over 30 MPH over the posted limit. They cought another going 120 . The spupid press posted that the highest speed ticketed was 151 . and it seems like they are shooting for the record.

[Alfadog]

Back in my day.........

[TomoHawk]

I thought Beandip was going to say that the kid in his story thought everybody would be OK because they had airbags to protect themselves and his ABS would allow him to maneuver throught the traffic safely...

If you feel you meed to travel over 80 mph on the open highway, just switch to an AIRPLANE. :devious:

[johncdeere]

I do agree that the false idea of safety is promoted and that this new generation of drivers don't listen and think that they are invincible. But . . . I can remember, in the 70's kids being the same way. "But Dad, with power steering and power brakes I can safer than you were with those old mechanical brakes and manual steering!"

And I had to find out how fast my 1975 Monte Carlo with a 400 cid and 4 barrel would go. Actually, I don't know the real speed since the speedometer only read 100 but I think about 140.

Point is, yes, it's up to us to teach as much as we can but youth is always going to push limits.

And the kid with the Civic, he should be fined and not get his license back for a long time. I know I don't want my family to be on the road with him out there.

After all, he couldn't be as good a driver as I was. :stupid:

[TomoHawk]

I learned to drive on a '65 Chevy pickup with a column-shift 3 speed and you had to push the e-brake pedal to stop. Also had an old Ford stake-bed truck with 4speed and no power, so I didn't go too fast until driver's Ed class in high school.

That and I spent summers on Chautauqua Lake, NY, boating/water-skiing, so again- no brakes! On the other hand, going slow wasn't so bad when you had ladies on-hand.

[Walter Moore]

I bought my first car with ABS a couple of years ago, and the accessory that I want most is an OFF switch.

I have done some stupid things in cars over the years, but none of them produced the terror of trying to make a panic stop from 40MPH on a bumpy road in a car with ABS. I pressed the pedal to the floor and NOTHING HAPPENED! The car did not slow down at all, because every time that the wheels got airborne between the bumps they would start to lock (of course.. that is what I wanted!) and the stupid ABS would release the pressure to the calipers!

I am completely convinced that my older cars without ABS would have stopped significantly faster. Several of my friends have had the same experience. If I can't disable the ABS when it isn't raining or snowing, I don't want it at all.

And don't even talk about "Traction control"...

[TomoHawk]

That's why ilike my Escort without the ABS, or ABS-ON DEMAND, as I would call it. I apply as much braking force as I need or want. I can lock the wheels or let them turn. It just me only so many years/winters to learn that.

Just remember to take good care of your tires and brakes!