In an auto accident/collision, should the drivers or the cars be at blame?
After an automobile accident or collision, the car usually isn’t the one liable. However, at times, cars have problems with their transmissions and other parts, which later results in a greater chance of getting into car collisions.
Daniel Pund, of Car and Driver magazine, claims, “People drive the Corvette differently than they would drive a Volvo and it tends to be a different type of driver. There’s nothing inherently unsafe about the Corvette.”
Pund claims, “The Firebirds and Camaros have done very well in crash tests. Combined with high death rates, what that statistic tells you is how people handle those cars.” As you can see, Pund claims that crash tests determine whether a car is in good condition and how likely it is to get into an accident. The accident itself determines the way that the driver was driving when the collision occurred.
“The person behind the wheel has a lot to do with the death rates,” claims David Champion, director of the Automotive Testing Division at Consumers Union. As a matter of fact, Champion claims that young males who are propelled by their testosterone are the ones who are most likely to get into car crashes and automobile collisions.
Champion says, “Look at sports cars as opposed to minivans. Minivans tend to be driven by some of the safest drivers out there. Minivan drivers tend not to speed, they tend not to drive at night after drinking heavily, and the death rates are much lower than sports cars.”
Pund, “Enzo Ferrari once said that a Ferrari owner is not necessarily a Ferrari driver, and the same is true for Corvettes. The drivers have the ultimate responsibility.”
However, Ford, which builds Mustangs, is reluctant to blame and put this sort of pressure on their drivers. Sara Tatchio, a safety communications manager at Ford claims, “We should never want to blame the victim for being involved in a fatal crash.” Tatchio claims that sports cars handle much more differently than regular sedans.
It all comes down to training and restraint, according to Pund. “Drivers need to rein in their enthusiasm and drive within the level of their experience. They also need to choose the places for gratuitous displays of power, or simply choose not to do it,” claims Pund.
Tatchio of Ford then claims, “We go to every effort to make all of our vehicles, including the Mustang, as safe as possible.”
Terry Rhadigan, manager of safety communications for General Motors, parent of both Chevrolet and Pontiac claims, “Our approach to motor vehicle safety is multifaceted and includes features that help our customers avoid crashes, and also help protect them in the event of a collision. Daytime running lamps, antilock brakes, and traction control help in avoiding collisions; while dual front air bags, a steel safety cage, and front and rear crush zones offer protection in a crash.”