[Geek] Volvo to protect pedestrians with external airbags - Page 7

Meh, rather have roo bars to splatter the pedestrian without damaging my car.

As far as radar braking is concerned...well, lets just say I have no intentions of ever purchasing a new car ever again.

Actually, I will probably never buy a vehicle made after 1980 ever again. Too much electronics after this point. I want an alternator, a battery, lights, maybe a heater, and not a damn thing else.

Unless you make sure they die, flee the scene, and get under the table repairs without reporting anything to your insurer.

Extra weight, cost, complexity/maintanence/inspection requirements...sounds like harm to me.

Not always, and it's not required everywhere.

I think this could have potential in protecting the driver more then whoever they hit. I mean it migh cushion whatevers flying towards the windshield if deployed fast enough, since the windshield can get pretty dangerous during an accident.

Someone from round here died with the biker that hit him flew through his windscreen and hit him. With this volvo device the biker would have bounced off and probably landed hundreds of yards away.

I don't think a regular person could go through a windscreen though, at any speed.

heh, I wonder if it would prevent moose kills. Having moose bounce off the airbag instead of flying through your windshield to land on and squash you like a bug could be a selling feature in some parts of the world.

No airbag will stop a moose from going through your windshield, those things are heavy. Have you seen first hand what they can do to a semi?

Pretty cool idea, to help for the lower speed hits that happen. Plus adds to Volvo's safety reputation. The radar braking has been around for a bit, and works pretty well. Have seen some close calls with those new Mercedes that I'm sure was braked by the radar braking.

I live in Miami. I have to work on Miami Beach a lot. On Miami Beach, there are designated crosswalks, with lights all over the place. No more than one short block, sometimes within 200 feet of each other. Everywhere. Yet, this is the mentality that I see there all the time. People ignore the crosswalks and just walk out into the street from between parked cars all the time. Then act surprised when there almost nailed by someone moving at 30-35 mph. Or, they may be at the crosswalk, but just cross anyways when vehicular traffic has right of way and DON'T WALK is even flashing, they just try to run or cross. Have seen probably 20 people get hit this past year alone.

I am about to pick up a GoPro and dash mount it, only because I know it can/will save me from a suit from some jacka**. Whether pedestrian or some idiot slamming on his brakes to try to park his 16ft long BMW 7 series in a 'Compact Only' parallel parking spot.

As for suits; already been sued once. Had a biker (bicycle), run into the back of my truck. She put her front wheel right between my back bumper and the bed of the truck, while trying to cross the street NOT in a crosswalk, ie jaywalking. She sued my insurance for $350,000. Settled for $120,000. For running into me, while crossing illegally. Oh, and she walked away too, Ambulance showed, she declined it. Just to show you how frivolous it is down here.

At least European car manufacturers are always trying innovative new ideas and technologies, unlike US manufacturers who have been sitting on their arses since the 1980s.

Windscreens are super tough, for sure. They cube off and then fall in together, it takes a very direct point of impact to drive a hole through a windshield.

Fun story about how bad drivers are and how any safety improvement is a good one, I was riding my road bike when I got into an accident. I ride pretty fast, around 30-40km/h on flat sections. I was in my own bike lane and everything and got cut off by a guy turning right who didn't signal. I slammed on my brakes, but still hit the back of his car and went over my handlebars and busted straight through his back window head first. It hurt a lot. My helmet and bike glasses saved me a concussion or a busted open head and glass shards in my eyes. I ended up with 20 stitches on my arm which is still the ugliest scar ever, and 5 on my chin (chins bleed REALLY hard by the way) and some nice bruising. A lot of drivers just don't have basic skills like shoulder checking on turns or just being aware of other vehicles and pedestrians down.

That's why I indicate even when there are no cars around. I KNEW there was a reason i did it!