On 2nd thought you're right. The damage on that Yellow S2k is way too light. Still, the guys in the silver oe would've lived if they were wearing their seatbelts, as I've seen on-board video footages of head-to-head crashes (both cars heading toward each other at 50mph(?-not sure)) with lesser cars that the driver himself unbuttoned his seatbelt and walked away unscathed.

 

We...ll most crashes occur apparantly at 30mph and less. Whilst people have survived some incredible high speed crashes, just think about the sheer shock and trauma to your whole system at coming to a sudden stop at 80mph which is motorway (freeway) speed, even if you're wearing the belt. That's not to say you wont survive, but there's a limit to what the human frame can take and luck plays a big part at those speeds.

Whatever the outcome, I'd prefer to remain in my seat rather than be catapulted through the windshield!

 

Ralper
See my last post. Seat belts and air bags are fantastic, but there's limit to what even they can do depending how fast you're travelling.

Poles and trees are the worst thing you can hit btw... immovable objects. They lose a little paint or bark.... you're toast!

 

Absolutely.

I think the original seat belt studies were done during World War II. Many fighter pilots were surviving the initial impact of a crash landing but dying when their bodies were catapulted against the canopy or out of the plane. The introduction of seatbelts, while not elliminating the deaths, drastically reduced them.

Cedric, without question I agree with you on both points. I'd rather be kept in my seat and anyone who doesn't wear seatbelts is nuts.

 

I know this is a morbid topic, but the fact is that the seat belt, checks you going forward, and the bag momentarily inflates to protect your head and chest as much as it can. The fact is you're very vunerable below the waist anyway. once the scuttle and pedals start to come back into the cabin, you don't want to know about the horrendous damage typically caused to your feet, ankles and legs.

When we're talking about surviving in this context we're talking about months of pain and grief! The best protection you can give yourself is leave yourself a gap and some thinking/ braking time.

 

Since some of the thoughts below appear to address my own, I feel they deserve a few moments of attention.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ralper

First, there was an on going argument equating the dangers of speeding to the dangers of street racing. I found this argument hard to believe. Racing, any form of racing, is inherently dangerous.
And excessive speeding doesn't court danger? You can street race your way to the legal speed limit. Speed killed in this case, not the race itself. The bullet kills the soldier, not the gun.
Yes, I agree that speeding can be dangerous and it is illegal but the degree of risk simply is no where near that of street racing. That depends entirely on HOW fast you are speeding. Ten miles over the legal speed limit isn't as dangerous as 55 mph over the posted limit? There is a very distinct set of circumstances which apply to each individual action. How could you possibly think Traveling individually down a two-lane stretch of highway at 145mph is LESS dangerous than racing down a three or four-lane highway at 80mph? Just an example.
Also, we must always consider the degee. Going 55 in a residential 35 is probably more dangerous then going 85 on a freeway marked at 65.
My point exactly.
The counter argument was very much if you speed you are taking as much risk as if you street race.
I don't think that argument was the thrust of anyone's point, rather it was deemed hypocritical for those to say "street racers are dangerous" at the same time they're rolling in triple digits. You can't stand on the yellow line here.
Someone made the comment to the effect that "you mean that you've never gone even 1 mph over the speed limit." (Not an exact quote)
I made the comment that I didn't think anyone would have bought their car had the top speed been 79mph. I stand by that comment. Anyone rolling more than 65mph in most parts of the country is a ticket waiting to happen. I was addressing the hypocrisy I felt was snaking its way into the thread. Everytime we receive one of these type of threads, invariably we get the "please don't street race" opinions, which have merit of course but still sound strange coming from others who admitedly go well over the speed limit frequently. Secondly, someone suggested something to the effect that none of us would have bought the car if it didn't have the ability to go as fast as it does. Once again, I believe it was me who implied no one would have bought the car had its top speed been limited to 79mph, well over the legal speed limit for most of the country. One doesn't have to go 155mph to put oneself in a dangerous situation with an automobile.
There was a lot of discussion following this yet everyone seemed to agree. I may be the only one, but I take exception to this. I didn't buy the car because it has a top speed of 146 mph. I'm sure all of us share this opinion. I think you missed the point of that particular statement. Again....top speed 79mph equals a LOT less S2000's on the road.
I've never even had it above 100.
Though I'm sure you've had it above 79mph eh?
I bought the car because it is fun to drive.
If you're not going somewhat above the posted speed limit, how much fun could this high revving car possibly be? Would the car EVER be in VTEC? I don't ever recall pulling into a Wendy's while showing 8K on the tach.

I don't need to do speeds of 146 to enjoy the handling and the thrill of driving.
Nowhere was it implied that such speeds were necessary to enjoy the S2000. That's simply hyperbole on your part.
And I suspect that most of the enjoyment that we derive from our cars happens at speeds well below 150 mph and even below 100 mph.
But of course, but I dare say it's above 55 mph.
You bring up valid points but in your dissenting opinion, I feel you based some of them on thoughts as you perceived them and embellished them to support your opinion. The "I don't need to go 146-155mph to have fun" is such an example, though I too am guilty with my 8K into Wendy's statement. Such is the case when we're not looking each other in the face to hear tone and see expressions. Without immediate interaction to address what people are trying to say, I think this will always be the case, smilies just won't get it done.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Russ
Since some of the thoughts below appear to address my own, I feel they deserve a few moments of attention.

Quote:

Originally posted by ralper

First, there was an on going argument equating the dangers of speeding to the dangers of street racing. I found this argument hard to believe. Racing, any form of racing, is inherently dangerous.
And excessive speeding doesn't court danger? You can street race your way to the legal speed limit. Speed killed in this case, not the race itself. The bullet kills the soldier, not the gun.
Yes, I agree that speeding can be dangerous and it is illegal but the degree of risk simply is no where near that of street racing. That depends entirely on HOW fast you are speeding. Ten miles over the legal speed limit isn't as dangerous as 55 mph over the posted limit? There is a very distinct set of circumstances which apply to each individual action. How could you possibly think Traveling individually down a two-lane stretch of highway at 145mph is LESS dangerous than racing down a three or four-lane highway at 80mph? Just an example.
Also, we must always consider the degee. Going 55 in a residential 35 is probably more dangerous then going 85 on a freeway marked at 65.
My point exactly.
The counter argument was very much if you speed you are taking as much risk as if you street race.
I don't think that argument was the thrust of anyone's point, rather it was deemed hypocritical for those to say "street racers are dangerous" at the same time they're rolling in triple digits. You can't stand on the yellow line here.
Someone made the comment to the effect that "you mean that you've never gone even 1 mph over the speed limit." (Not an exact quote)
I made the comment that I didn't think anyone would have bought their car had the top speed been 79mph. I stand by that comment. Anyone rolling more than 65mph in most parts of the country is a ticket waiting to happen. I was addressing the hypocrisy I felt was snaking its way into the thread. Everytime we receive one of these type of threads, invariably we get the "please don't street race" opinions, which have merit of course but still sound strange coming from others who admitedly go well over the speed limit frequently. Secondly, someone suggested something to the effect that none of us would have bought the car if it didn't have the ability to go as fast as it does. Once again, I believe it was me who implied no one would have bought the car had its top speed been limited to 79mph, well over the legal speed limit for most of the country. One doesn't have to go 155mph to put oneself in a dangerous situation with an automobile.
There was a lot of discussion following this yet everyone seemed to agree. I may be the only one, but I take exception to this. I didn't buy the car because it has a top speed of 146 mph. I'm sure all of us share this opinion. I think you missed the point of that particular statement. Again....top speed 79mph equals a LOT less S2000's on the road.
I've never even had it above 100.
Though I'm sure you've had it above 79mph eh?
I bought the car because it is fun to drive.
If you're not going above the speed limit, how much fun could it possibly be? Would the car EVER be in VTEC?
I don't need to do speeds of 146 to enjoy the handling and the thrill of driving.
Nowhere was it implied that such speeds were necessary to enjoy the S2000. That's simply hyperbole on your part.
And I suspect that most of the enjoyment that we derive from our cars happens at speeds well below 150 mph and even below 100 mph.
But of course, but I dare say it's above 55 mph.
You bring up valid points but in your dissenting opinion, I feel you based some of them on thoughts as you perceived them and not as they were originally written. Such is the case when we're not looking each other in the face to hear tone and see expressions. Without immediate interaction to address what people are truly trying to address, I think this will always be the case, smilies just won't get it done.

Russ

I am sorry if you were offended by anything that I said. As I said at the beginning of my post, none of this was intended as a flame nor was any of it to be taken personally.

I agree that not being able to speak "face to face" puts a strain on the discussion, and allows for misunderstanding on both sides. Without question something is lost.

I still disagree with much of what has been said. I hope you respect that as much as I respect your disagreeing with me. I think I'd like to leave it like that, with the understanding that we continue to agree to disagree.

 

By and by, is there a mandatory seatbelt law in Pennsylvania?

 

Suddenly untimely death is a tragic thing that affects huge numbers of people not just those who lose their lives. I'm not flaming anyone, but we all know in our heart of hearts that this is doubly tragic in that it was probably self-inflicted and probably entirely avoidable. When we look for explanations other than the obvious, are we defending those poor guys or we looking inwardly perhaps and potentially at least, defending ourselves. I dunno.

In the UK the maximum speed you can do legally anywhere is 70 mph, and you can as near as damn it do that in second gear. Plenty of cars are loads quicker than the S, so there's a huge disparity between the message the government is giving us, and the one we're getting from the motor manufacturers.

We all use our own discretion don't we, to decide when it's safe to unleash all those horses which as Russ points out isn't often within legal limits. A couple of gears (At least) wouild be redundant straight away. What happened to those poor souls could happen to any of us at anytime.

 

shit happens... what can ya do other then change the world? my heart goes out to the family that lost a loved one.

bryan