Low speed "fender benders" are responsible for a good portion of the high auto insurance rates.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...way_safety0802

Here's why:
http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/...13170509990001

Here's how things used to be when 5 mph bumpers were the law:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKfEv6gB46U
(Don't try this on your new car's "bumper"!) Cars built during the 5-mph-law era sustained no damage in a straight-on bumper collision.

Notice the 81 Escort:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP2tDZg1Uw0

Here's a current design of a bumper that actually works (but I'd like to see the driver, too):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9xPNrIvnLM

Liberty Mutual actually built a prototype "Survival Car"http://trombinoscar.ifrance.com/chevrolet/cv5509.html , but to my knowledge it never made it beyond the prototype stage. This car's primary purpose was to protect passengers from injuries, not itself from damage.

Back in the 60's Ralph Nader & Co. designed a safety car that would protect auto passengersin50 mph collisions, while at the same time sustaining only minor damage to itself. I cannot find anything about it on theinternet except maybe this -http://www.nader.org/template.php?/a...ur-Future.html -but suffice it to say that it was one ugly-looking vehicle. It had on the outside of it large, cheap styrofoam bumpers which would absorb impacts and self-destruct in doing so, but they were really inexpensive to replace. Inside the car the passengers were surrounded by soft foam surfaces that, when compressed in a collision, would safely absorb force.

 

interesting post....what led you to do this research?

 

I ran into the cement base of a giant lightpost with my 1981 chevy citation (spinning broadies on the ice as a young kid....) at about 15mph and it didn't even scratch it. In a new car it would have dang near totaled it. I see the reasoning but I'm not sure it's the best thing in the world....

 

This morningI saw that first link at the Globe and Mail and it really ticked me off. $13,000 for a 6 mph "collision"?Seeing it instantly reminded me of that indestructable plasticPontiac bumper made inthe 60's, so I did a little searching andfound those other links.(I wish I could have found a photo ofthat butt-ugly Nader vehicle.)

IMO, you'd have to be nuts to buy a car that sustained that kind of damage in such a "crash". The rest of thecars mentioned didn't do much better, either.

If just a single major manufacturer were to put decent front and rear bumpers on their new cars AND ADVERTISE them, I'm sure the insurance industry would give their owners favorable rates, and just maybe they'd be copied by other manufacturers.

Think that's going to happen? About as likely as Rumsfeld and Gonzalestelling the truth.

What is really needed is another 5-mph-bumper law - NOW. Everyone except the those getting a piece of that $13,000 would be grateful.

Maybe thisissue will bebrought upduring one of the many futurepresidential "debates". (Dream on.)

I also had some slow collisions in which no damage occurred.

The manufacturers and other beneficiaries of thisnational disgracehave got consumers right by the baIIs, and apparently nobody, especially politicians, cares one bit.

 

As is the current trend I'll start posting it too..... you won me over guys.....

Those people need a big old hairy sweaty TEA BAG

 

This is what we do in Tanzania. Although with modern crumple technology it might be redundant.

 

One of my buddies had one of those whe I was in high school. It had an aftermarket radio held in place by a home made box made out of paper mache (Did I spell that right? It's pronounced "mashay") Anyways...good memories.

 

I wonder what the totaldamage costwas for this little slow-speedspree?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hohz6...ted&search=
Yes, the insurance companies will probably pony up to pay for allthe damage, but from whom do the insurance companies get their money (plus a whopping profit)?

We all end up paying for grossly negligent automotive engineering.

I guess thesilver lining tothis dark cloud of expensiveincompetenceis that cars sure do LOOK good nowadays - sleek, stylish, fancy paints and delicate aluminum wheels! Yummy!

 

Wow! That winter bumper cars vid was awesome. I'm glad I don't have to deal with snow during the winter lol.

 

*ROFL* 1968 Pontiac GTO Commercial.... Here's a bumper test for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKfEv6gB46U&NR=1