|
In Reply to: pictures of a Z3 wreck (a bad one)... posted by Alan on September 27, 1999 at 21:53:23:
I will always wear my seatbelt. It's said that you only get one warning, I'd say this qualifies.
Many thanks to Mike and Guinn and Alan and Nancy for giving us this important and graphic information.
Guinn's account clears up some mistaken assumptions- another important lesson there.
Since it is a new 2.3, does that mean it has side airbags? My 97 2.8 doesn't and I am curious how much of a difference they make- like, if it was me in this accident, and I was wearing my belt, would I have been worse off because I don't have side air bags?
Anecdotal- my brother was in an accident ~1978 in his 442. After a storm, he was crossing a low bridge over a stream. As his headlights pointed down approaching the bridge, he could not see a tree that had fallen over the road on the far side of the bridge. As he reached the other side, his headlights pointed up and he saw the tree, suspended ~3ft off the ground because of its roots and branches, just high enough to clear the hood.
Pre-ABS, the skid marks continue to impact, the car was found with the roof peeled back like a sardine can top and the tree itself was in the passenger and driver's seats. Blood was found only on the gearshift and passenger side rear window.
My brother was fine, dazed, found standing outside the car, not knowing how he had escaped. Only a cut on his head requiring stitches.
Certainly if had been wearing a seat belt, he'd be dead. From that time until now, I have been lax about wearing my seatbelt, because although his circumstance was unusual, so are accidents.
These photos and this story have changed my mind. Times have changed, the cars have changed. I will always wear my seatbelt from now on.
Gives me pause about my 27 year old car- no airbags, and the seatbelts are a bad joke.
Very happy to hear Mike's brain is OK!
Thanks again.
© 1997 -
2008
Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.
