Twice over this weekend I was witness to head-on collisions on the road to and from home. In both instances it was a luxury vehicle and a low end of the market commute.
Even new cars at the lower end of the market have, at the very least, driver and passenger airbags, and crumple zones up front. Move higher up the market and you have added airbags in the doors and window frames with perhaps side impact protection. At the top of the range you have all the interior protection plus driver aids like anti skid ABS brake systems, impact sensitive Head Restraints, Impact absorbing interiors, Traction control, Electronic Stability systems, and some, even Night Vision with Heads up Display.
Top end cars also have the latest Xenon headlights that follow the curve of the road, allowing you to anticipate upcoming obstructions at the peripheral of your line-of-sight.
Not to mention those annoying fog lights that especially the BMW drivers are so fond of, even on clear evenings.
All of this makes your chance of surviving in almost any type of accident, including head-on’s, much better than the poor fucker in the Beetle you just T-boned. And that is exactly the point I’m trying to make. If you can afford it, you’re fine and dandy, but those of us who drive around in our affordable runabouts don’t stand a fucking chance, do we now?
On top of that, the fuckers that drive their expensive NHTSA-Approved Mercs and BM’s at excessive speeds, flashing their Xenon’s at unsuspecting nerve-wracked commuters, who’s only ambition is to get home to spend a few hours with their kids and make supper before passing out from exhaustion, I have this to say; Fuck you!
Carry on blaming the Taxi’s and un-roadworthy vehicles for as long as your speed control remains at 140km/h, but hear this; one day you’re going to be the cause of an accident, and although you’ll be a bit shaken and annoyed at your insurance excess, the family in the fully paid-up Corolla, on their way to the coast for holiday are not going to be so lucky.
Think about that, and if you have even the slightest feeling for your fellow man, keep your new toy in line and take it easy with the headlights. I know they’re nice and shiny and make you see the Polar Regions on Mars, but it makes it impossible for an approaching vehicle to see the road.
In my experience you can’t even see the yellow emergency lines, as a last resort to keep your car on the road.
Your luxury vehicle has a ton of added features, they just don't all have to be on at the same time.
Enjoy your 650 iesxtdi, but keep it humble.
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