Holden safety in action

[vtman]

I've long had a strong interest in automotive safety - Holden in particular who have led the Australian car field since the airbag-and-abs VR Acclaim in 1993. But today I had the most unusual experience of witnessing an unfortunate collision at an intersection in Malvern as I walked down the street. Despite witnessing it right in front of me, I cannot recall whether the VE Calais or the Subaru Forester ran the red light, but the net result was 2 presumably totalled cars as the VE got T-boned.

It's nothing like in the brochures. The sound of a real-world collision resembles a bomb detonating, and after the initial collision between the vehicles comes the secondary collision as vehicles fly out of control and skid to a halt. In a matter of maybe 3 or 4 seconds everything has already happened.

There was a minimum of traffic, no one was on the footpath where the VE ended up, several people called the police who were located just up the road, and it seemed no one was hurt. Lucky.

At the same time as sympathising with the mess remaining of what were fine vehicles minutes earlier, I was left feeling awe-struck at the amount of technology particularly in the Calais that had actived in the blink of an eye. The deployment of front and side curtain airbags as needed, an extremely solid passenger compartment, CAD-designed crumple zones absorbing impact energy, and electronic aids like ESP, ABS, BAS and EBD playing their part in helping the vehicle come to a complete stop. In the event of an accident, power to the fuel pump is cut, doors unlock, the interior light comes on and the hazards appeared to activate also. Masses of on-board technology and engineering sitting idly until the very split second when it all comes together.

The point is this: if everyone could see what I saw today, a little girl being carried away from a badly wrecked Holden in a shaken but unharmed state, people would realise how serious automotive safety is. No underweight economy cars, no top-heavy 4WDs, no grossly simplistic 'speed kills' propoganda, no tolerance for critical safety gear being optional (a la FG Falcon curtain 'bags), and no dismissal of the silly acronyms used by marketing to cheapen what is ultimately nothing short of awesome technology.

Kudos to the unsung heroes Holden and similarly safety-focused makers for the lives saved.:goodjob:

[Mungrel]

An unnerving event to witness for sure.

You're 100% right about the technology of today.
BMW's (among other manufacturers) have a circuit breaker in the positive battery cable right next to the battery which is triggered by the airbags deploying. As tthey deploy, the circuit breaker / fuse (whatever you want to call it) trips physically severing the electrical circuit.

Working where i do, i see totalled cars every day and the amount of technology, be it crumple zones, airbags or other equipment is impressive. As i was leaving, i was inspecting an A-Class Mercedes (little hatch back), small car but a big amount of metal bracing under the floor.

Another recent classic was a 156 Alfa, front end totaled, rear end totalled, but 3 out of the 4 doors still opened. Impressive to say the least IMO.

[COSMOS]

We just ordered a 2010 subaru liberty as our daily driver. All wheel drive, seven airbags, great crumple zones, a host of other safety equipment, 5 stars NCAP rating. Nice little ride to buzz about it and then mine has 6 bags, esp, all the other stuff and is a little bigger too.

I would always option safety equipment before luxury items - lucky in these two cars we get the safety systems plus sunroof, leather etc.

[keepleft]

ONE can be thankful for the ADR's then.

ADR's in turn are sourced in full, mostly, from our ongoing UNECE harmonisation with the UN's Global Technical rules for road transport.

Although we dumb-down or 'optionalise' some ADR's like rear fogs etc (for now), since Australia never gets fog and it never rains, nor do we get bushfire smoke, dustorms, or have gravel roads. We don't yet mandate for hazard warning triangle or safety vests in cars either, *but will*, just like EU and China.

http://www.boostcruising.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=450922

http://www.boostcruising.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=447897

http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/07/14/calls-for-improved-roadside-safety/

AUS can be thankful that the VIC GovCo used state power to effectively force the adoption of ESP, side curtain airbags etc.



Purchase a hazard-warning triangle for your car to improve the ‘warning-time’ given to approaching traffic, at both crash scenes and vehicle breakdowns. Store it in the boot. I suggest Hella Part No. 2901 - $70, or from Auto Parts Shops, - supplier "Prokit" - Item No. RG9212 - $20. A World/Euro standard triangle device exceeding AS3790 triangle performance requirements. http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/lic_drivesafe4.pdf

[gmh308]

I've long had a strong interest in automotive safety - Holden in particular who have led the Australian car field since the airbag-and-abs VR Acclaim in 1993. But today I had the most unusual experience of witnessing an unfortunate collision at an intersection in Malvern as I walked down the street. Despite witnessing it right in front of me, I cannot recall whether the VE Calais or the Subaru Forester ran the red light, but the net result was 2 presumably totalled cars as the VE got T-boned.

It's nothing like in the brochures. The sound of a real-world collision resembles a bomb detonating, and after the initial collision between the vehicles comes the secondary collision as vehicles fly out of control and skid to a halt. In a matter of maybe 3 or 4 seconds everything has already happened.

There was a minimum of traffic, no one was on the footpath where the VE ended up, several people called the police who were located just up the road, and it seemed no one was hurt. Lucky.

At the same time as sympathising with the mess remaining of what were fine vehicles minutes earlier, I was left feeling awe-struck at the amount of technology particularly in the Calais that had actived in the blink of an eye. The deployment of front and side curtain airbags as needed, an extremely solid passenger compartment, CAD-designed crumple zones absorbing impact energy, and electronic aids like ESP, ABS, BAS and EBD playing their part in helping the vehicle come to a complete stop. In the event of an accident, power to the fuel pump is cut, doors unlock, the interior light comes on and the hazards appeared to activate also. Masses of on-board technology and engineering sitting idly until the very split second when it all comes together.

The point is this: if everyone could see what I saw today, a little girl being carried away from a badly wrecked Holden in a shaken but unharmed state, people would realise how serious automotive safety is. No underweight economy cars, no top-heavy 4WDs, no grossly simplistic 'speed kills' propoganda, no tolerance for critical safety gear being optional (a la FG Falcon curtain 'bags), and no dismissal of the silly acronyms used by marketing to cheapen what is ultimately nothing short of awesome technology.

Kudos to the unsung heroes Holden and similarly safety-focused makers for the lives saved.:goodjob:

Ditto mate. Great post! 1 second all is quiet, calm and normal. Next second boom, injury and maybe death. It happens in the blink of an eye and so easily you have no time to react and most times dont even know it is happening.

At one time when safety was first started to hit the streets, driven by insurance companies and governments, oddly it did not sell cars. Luckily now it does.

And though a Yaris and a Commodore can both share a 5 star NCAP rating, I know which one I would rather be in for a "big one". Most of its extra weight over the earlier models is about crash resistance.

[Holden Nut]

I've long had a strong interest in automotive safety - Holden in particular who have led the Australian car field since the airbag-and-abs VR Acclaim in 1993.

Kudos to the unsung heroes Holden and similarly safety-focused makers for the lives saved.:goodjob: I'm pretty sure Holden have been leading the way in Australia with a lot of things like that, ie first to feature and also make standard, things like the proper normal seatbelts in the centre rear seat, independant rear suspension, traction control, stability control and as far as airbags go they were the first to offer driver, passenger, side impact and then curtain airbags.

[kpop]

i have great respect for the ESP in my car.

turning at an intersection, i hit a group of fine pebbles/rocks that were hard to see. The back end suddenly slid out, the ESP instantly kicked in and i continued to drive 'normally'. Had i not had ESP, im sure i would have started fishtailing or possibly spun out into oncoming traffic.


i also just saw the ad for the new E class. it seems loaded with safety, such as warnings for driving too long, unintentionally merging lanes, and automatically slowing down based on the distance of the vehicle in front of you.