[Vik0728]

Happened in my hometown.
VW Vento TDi FL. All 4 lives lost. Unbuckled and drunk.

Damn

If that does not explain the importance of Seat Belts, I don't know what else/more can. No matter the build quality or material used:

If you Drink, Don't Drive...VICEVERSA

[honeybee]

Just today saw an ad from the VW group on the build quality of their cars, supposedly to shift the public attention from the emissions scandal. Also have seen many people boat about the solid build of these cars as against other manufacturers. The above story of the Vento accident seems to shift the focus back to the biggest factor in an accident: human. When not buckled and drunk, even a solidly built car cannot save you. No matter which car you are driving, you need to be a safe driver, and not expect the car to compensate for your stupidity.

[sudev]

Yes honeybee. Every one jumped in to slam Baleno build quality a few weeks back. No one moaning about VW build quality. The loose nut behind steering wheel is the biggest variable. A tank can also end up squished if this variable is not in control.

[tanwaramit]

More updates on the Rajpath accident from last night

________________________________________
http://www.business-standard.com/art...1200719_1.html

Six people, including two women and a policeman, were injured as several vehicles collided in two back-to-back accidents in the span of a few minutes at an intersection on the Rajpath in the vicinity of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday, police said.

The vehicles include a police van, five cars and some motorcycles, said a police official.

The official said that the incident occurred around 11.30 p.m. on Saturday when a speeding Honda City car collided with a Maruti car at the Rafi Marg-Rajpath intersection and then climbed over a nearby pavement.

He said that a Police Control Room (PCR) van rushed to the spot after the incident, while some other vehicles had also gathered there.

It was then a speeding Audi car approached the intersection and rammed into the PCR van, two cars (a Zen Estilo and an Alto) and some motorcycles in a bid to prevent colliding with the Maruti car.

The driver of the Audi car, who was suspected to be drunk, escaped unhurt as the car's airbags got activated and he fled the scene, abandoning the car at the spot, the official said.

"The six injured people were rushed to nearby hospital. All of them stated to be out of danger and discharged after first aid. We have registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the driver of the Audi car," the police official said.

__________________________________________________ ________________________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgrTydOosM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiSQCuZEtDc

[IUNKWN]

Originally Posted by sudev

moaning about VW build quality..

Chill bro. Marutis build quality is well known. Remember the Ertiga whose eps got jammed, jumped off the highway and fell down. It was literally disassembled. The VW was after all in one piece.
PS. I am not a VW owner. I own a tata, mahindra and a ford. Try lifting the hood of tata with one hand, or get on its roof and give it a wash if you're courageous. Try the same with a maruti. You can judge the steel strength diffence in megapascals ;-) That said, a maruti is no doubt economical, easy to drive car in city.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by IUNKWN

The VW was after all in one piece.

Pardon me but Sudev was pointing out more towards the drunken driving habits where the one behind the steering wheel assumes the "car" he is in will protect him what ever he does under all circumstances.

The build quality of VW cars may be better than Maruti, no denying it but if the soul behind the steering is drunk and not belted up, no car or bus or tank (as told) would save them from disasters.

[harry10]

That Vento is shattered from all corners. I wonder even with seat belts if they would have survived. Rip.

I wonder why the Audi driver ran away from the accident spot. Probably he knew he is above the alcohol limit. But, then he might not have read the Salman case or won't be aware of how to make a case of driverless Audi causing an accident.

And how did he manage that with police and other people around that too in foggie conditions. Amazing. It also shows how dangerous it is to stand on the road when it's all fog around you. And still people do 80+ km/hr in such conditions forgetting how much they are putting themselves and others in grave danger.

[extreme_torque]

Originally Posted by DRIV3R

Happened in my hometown. Young drunk blood, overspeeding, missed to take a turn and drove straight into a fence, uprooted trees, hit the wall and fell down the water channel. About 200 metres after fence. VW Vento TDi FL. All 4 lives lost. Unbuckled and drunk.

How many more death, how many more lives lost before our government wakes up and makes a strong drunk driving law. To me if you are driving drunk and kill someone, you are a murderer, no less.

[honeybee]

This is off topic, but the law already exists. It's just that it is not enforced.

[Samratrek]

side to see a toppled Xylo on the opposite side of the road. There were around 5-6 passengers in the MUV. Few were seating on the divider, one was lying down and one of them was fine.

Would it have happened if the Xylo had an ABS,leave it to the more experienced persons on the forum to comment,as I am planning a SUV with ABS,but there are contradictory views on actually efficacy of ABS.

[B103]

Originally Posted by for_cars1

...............
However by just looking at the two vehicles which collided headon, the Swift's passenger cell appears to be intact whereas the Etios' passenger cabin (left side) has been ripped apart. Goes to show that in relative terms, a designed-for-Europe-Indan-built Swift (although structurally weaker than the European Swift) structurally fares better than a car that is primarily designed for and released only in third-world/emerging markets.
.........

Are you sure this is a right observation? I thought it was the other way around. The Swift could be inferior and Etios superior.

Like a good helmet, the shell of the car should collapse on the impact. Otherwise, the shock will be transferred to the passengers inside the car and the impact grievous.

Disagree? Or did you mean the same thing? Looks like not and you were praising Swift here.

[Swapnil4585]

Originally Posted by IUNKWN

PS. I am not a VW owner. I own a tata, mahindra and a ford. Try lifting the hood of tata with one hand, or get on its roof and give it a wash if you're courageous. Try the same with a maruti. You can judge the steel strength diffence in megapascals ;-) That said, a maruti is no doubt economical, easy to drive car in city.

Howsoever I agree with you on the Maruti build quality, but a discussion (yet again) on that aspect of that car maker is not warranted. The point being made out is, the driver behind the wheel must be aware of the consequences of uncontrolled speed. If he is not, not only is he endangering himself, he is also causing a threat to other unsuspecting road users and property.

Coming on to steel strength, yet again, I agree with you. Tata have been using a higher strength steel. But that alone do not make their cars safer. The crumple zones of a car's structure matter the most, and not the steel.

Driving within the speed limit prescribed for the concerned road, having a good judgement of the vehicle one is in, being aware of the general road environment, adhering to the law, and one has more chances to survive. Safer car or not.

[cyberwhizs]

Originally Posted by Swapnil4585

The crumple zones of a car's structure matter the most, and not the steel.

They both matter, if you run in into something head-on, crumple zones matter the most in absorbing the impact. On the other hand if you get t-boned or topple over, or something falls on the roof, the rigidity of the body shell is what will protect you from getting crushed.

In general better steel (thicker gauge, harder steel, design - ribbed, honeycombed) - better structural integrity. But better steel means higher weight -> higher cost -> lower fuel efficiency and lower performance. So some manufacturers knowingly skimp on these aspects and media outlets tout it as a piece of brilliant engineering.

In the never ending chase of weight reduction, may be one day some manufacturers will replace all the steel with plastic, provide airbags and ebd and position it as a safe car

[venkyhere]

Originally Posted by cyberwhizs

In the never ending chase of weight reduction, may be one day some manufacturers will replace all the steel with plastic, provide airbags and ebd and position it as a safe car

FYI, supercar makers like ferrari, lambo, pagani etc offer models which are 100% carbon fibre body shell.

[cyberwhizs]

Originally Posted by venkyhere

FYI, supercar makers like ferrari, lambo, pagani etc offer models which are 100% carbon fibre body shell.

Wasn't aware it was the *complete* shell, was thinking specific parts rather than the whole assembly, but that is a technology at a price point which offers weight reduction without compromising on ability to bear stress. So this carbon fibre body shell is monocoque or bolted onto a chassis/sub frame assembly?

In any case plastics != carbon fibre.