72 replies to this topic

[DFulton]

I am firmly of the opinion that people who drive 'safe' cars are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road these days. It seems that the 5-star Euro-NCAP rating makes people feel invincible - if there was a big sharp spike in the middle of everyone's steering wheel rather than an airbag or six, they would take much more care over their driving as they would know that a crash (however slight) would most likely end in them dying.

JR

Totally agree. I run my mini as a weekend bit of fun. I do make an effort to drive defensively, however I have noticed that my attitude to the road is often more safety conscious when, or just after, I've driven the mini and felt vulnerable for a bit.

I wonder how many people are aware of the level of testing that NCAP does. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the front-end crash test they do is only done at 40mph, which would only roughly compare with a head-on between two cars doing about 20 (maybe a bit more as both cars would give a bit). Maybe they should publish footage of higher speed collisions to make people aware how dangerous any car is at speed?

[mighty mini jack]

I dont know why but i have the urge to see the other photos from Biggav i know its not possible to put these up.
You may call me sick, but i know im not the only one.

[shorty]

I am firmly of the opinion that people who drive 'safe' cars are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road these days. It seems that the 5-star Euro-NCAP rating makes people feel invincible - if there was a big sharp spike in the middle of everyone's steering wheel rather than an airbag or six, they would take much more care over their driving as they would know that a crash (however slight) would most likely end in them dying.

JR

Totally agree. I run my mini as a weekend bit of fun. I do make an effort to drive defensively, however I have noticed that my attitude to the road is often more safety conscious when, or just after, I've driven the mini and felt vulnerable for a bit.

I wonder how many people are aware of the level of testing that NCAP does. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the front-end crash test they do is only done at 40mph, which would only roughly compare with a head-on between two cars doing about 20 (maybe a bit more as both cars would give a bit). Maybe they should publish footage of higher speed collisions to make people aware how dangerous any car is at speed?

yeh i agree being able to see more high speed test crashes would be alot better....i remember fith gear or some other car program
doing some high speed test at like 60mph head on with another car doing the same.
results of both cars weren't particularly good but it gives u a good impression as to what could happen...both cars came out bad an i tink one was a land rover but cnt remember.

[biggav]

Type "NCAP" into youtube to see as many crash tests as you like.

We do an hour long presentation for 15/16 year old with slide show and a video at the end. None of the pictures are particularly grizzly, but the stories that go with them are. So far i've done presentations to over 1000 people and they've been so succesful that the council have cut the funding for next year .

[mighty mini jack]

Type "NCAP" into youtube to see as many crash tests as you like.

We do an hour long presentation for 15/16 year old with slide show and a video at the end. None of the pictures are particularly grizzly, but the stories that go with them are. So far i've done presentations to over 1000 people and they've been so succesful that the council have cut the funding for next year .

I think thats brilliant Gav, well done surly will teach us to be safe

[minicooper1.3i]

Great post everyone! And hats off to all of you who have the grizzly job of cleaning up other peoples messy mistakes.

In the mini's defence, I was run off the road in my old MPi Sportspack, by an old dear in a mondeo who couldn't use her mirrors. As I was passing her on a country road (doing about 50, she 40ish) she drifted into me and as I instinctively swerved and braked, my front offside wheel hit a large stone hidden in the grass verge. The steering wheel was jerked out of my hand and the car nose dived into the ditch, hit the far bank before flipping over onto the roof and rolling several times before landing, thankfully on its wheels. The airbag didn't go off as it wasn't a 'head on' impact with anything, and I only suffered a bruise to my shoulder from the seat belt, and a bruies to my knee where it hit the window winder.

Needless to say I was very lucky, more so than the car which was written off despite looking in very good nick, considering. Unfortunately the floor pan was bent as was the drivers A panel at the roof point so it was written off. Am still gutted about it.

I don't really think Mini's are typically 'un-safe'. As with any car, if it's in the wrong place at the wrong time, there's nothing that can be done about it.

So all of you who are now in two minds as to whether to buy a mini or not, just go for it and enjoy yourself. Personally, I reckon getting motoring experience behind the wheel of a Mini makes for a better and safer driver.

[mab01uk]

Any car designed before the 1990's is not going to perform well in Ncap style crash tests not just the Mini:-
VW Beetle & Mk2 Golf
YRbwTutw-Hk&NR=1

and for a real scary one:-
VW Bus
TPpU5azjCB8&feature=related

and here how major progress in safety has been achieved for 2 of the latest small cars:-
(Note: passenger compartment survival space ok & even the front windscreens stay in position)
VW Fox
_qnmJ6mNfaU&feature=related

MINI
avc70WVqqKg

Edited by mab01uk, 23 May 2008 - 11:07 PM.

[T.Harper]

ouch, those are chilling. I agree that the problem isn't always us in our cars, but what we have to expect from others on the road

[CaraMillar]

After reading everything thats been written here, the crash with the mini is making me have serious thoughts about driving mine around. It made me feel sick

[Natalie]

After reading everything thats been written here, the crash with the mini is making me have serious thoughts about driving mine around. It made me feel sick

It's hard but you can't think like that, as the old saying goes you could get hit by a bus tomorrow.

Edited by Natalie, 23 May 2008 - 04:03 PM.

[mab01uk]

After reading everything thats been written here, the crash with the mini is making me have serious thoughts about driving mine around. It made me feel sick

Riding a motorbike carries a higher risk but people still ride them................just take more care and drive defensively, trying to anticipate what other road users may suddenly do without any warning !

[SprattBoy]

Any car designed before the 1990's is not going to perform well in Ncap style crash tests not just the Mini:-

V
I
D
E
O
S

Eeeek . That's scary, they just concertina up! We'll all just have to be extra careful!

Edited by SprattBoy, 23 May 2008 - 07:12 PM.

[dannyb123]

does'nt really help that the car manufacturers of today are making there small cars bigger than before. The ford fiesta for example think how small it was with a small engine years ago, and its latest model with a more powerful engine trying to drag all that weight around, may be safe for the passenger of that car but wont be for the poor sod crashing into it. If i did ever have a serious cash i would prefer it to be an old car!