Honda Car Forum

Dillon Pyron <invaliddmpyron@austin.rr.com> wrote in
newsmq5g5d8aogoh6fkc0ip0cno37khjju3hv@4ax.com:

> Thus spake Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> :
>
>>"zzznot" <zzznot@invalid.net> wrote in news:hdrv82$aoe$1@news.eternal-
>>september.org:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Which leads me to a peeve - no bumpers! The foremost
>>> point on my car is - the license plate! And in any
>>> kind of even low-speed collision, looks like the emblem
>>> and hood go very quickly. Looking around at traffic,
>>> a LOT of cars are designed this way - Lexus/Toyota seems
>>> to be better, their fenders and bumpers preceed the
>>> nose by at least a couple of inches. But some Mercedes
>>> seem to lead with the grill, also, and it's practically
>>> a Chrysler design element.
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>It's my understanding that this front-end design is on account of
>>safety regulations, both American and European.
>>
>>The regulations are intended to make the front end of the car as
>>roundy and puffy and smooth as possible so as not to damage any
>>pedesterians you might wallop. I'm not kidding.
>
> Remember a few years ago when Honda was actually advertising such a
> design on the Civic?
>
> I've seen three low speed "pedestrian encounters front bumper"
> patients in the ER. If you've ever seen an episode of any of the CSI
> shows where they talk about it, those are pretty much the injuries
> you'll see. Broken femoral head on impact side, either tib-fib or
> tri-mallalor on the opposide side and three to four anterior rib
> fractures on the impact side. Usually some sort of C3-C4 injury.
>
> Speeds over about 10 mph usually involve windsheild consumption.



A guy I used to work with once got hit by a Mercedes. Not an S-class,
but the one down from that.

He was crossing on a green and had the right-of-way. The Mercedes driver
was turning left (on the same green) and struck him in such a way that
he was thrown into the concrete median. Forearm fractured in several
places, elbow fractured, jaw fractured. Some teeth knocked out, others
loosened. Broken cheekbone. Something happened to his shoulder too, but
I forget what. He looked absolutely awful, like he'd been...hit by a car
or something.

I saw his X-rays. Lots of pins and screws. I imagine he has some trouble
at the airport that he didn't have before. Plus he's Iranian and looks
it.

Oddly, there were no fractures below the rib cage, so he was mobile
right away.



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

On Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:25 -0600, Dillon Pyron
<invaliddmpyron@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>Thus spake Tegger <invalid@invalid.inv> :
>>The regulations are intended to make the front end of the car as roundy and
>>puffy and smooth as possible so as not to damage any pedesterians you might
>>wallop. I'm not kidding.
>
>Remember a few years ago when Honda was actually advertising such a
>design on the Civic?

Er, no.

>I've seen three low speed "pedestrian encounters front bumper"
>patients in the ER. If you've ever seen an episode of any of the CSI
>shows where they talk about it, those are pretty much the injuries
>you'll see. Broken femoral head on impact side, either tib-fib or
>tri-mallalor on the opposide side and three to four anterior rib
>fractures on the impact side. Usually some sort of C3-C4 injury.

So then, the design is working like a charm?


J.

"Tegger" <invalid@invalid.inv> wrote in message
news:Xns9CC654D9E480Ategger@208.90.168.18...
> Leftie <No@Thanks.net> wrote in news:7JpMm.844$tz6.595@newsfe02.iad:
>
>> Tegger wrote:
>
>>>
>>> Exact interpretation of the Eeevil laws is up to the designers of
>>> course, but all cars are blimpily safety-fied these days.
>>>
>>>
>>
>> They don't have to build cars that crumple even in low-speed
>> crashes.
>
>
>
> Yes they do. That's the /whole point/ of the regulations.
>
> When the regulations were being discussed, Jaguar even experimented with
> small airbag-type explosive charges that elevated the hood above the
> engine
> on a frontal impact in order to perform the cushioning effect the
> regulations demanded. This would have enabled Jaguar to retain a sleeker
> frontal design. They eventually discarded that idea on account of cost.
>
>
>> That's just the cheaper way to do it.
>>
>
>
> It's the /legal/ way to do it, and automakers didn't do it until forced.
>
> I've read interviews with automotive designers where they've said thay
> hate
> the regulations because they result in bulbous and ungraceful front-ends.
>
I suppose that would explain the ugly new Acura TL.

>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/