So inconvenient

[Roert42]

I saw a video once where someone rigged a airbag under some tires and when a guy sat down for lunch they set it off and it launched him into the air. I personally dont like airbags and would rather disconnect the damn things permanently but I do also believe the only reason my daughter wasn’t killed last year when she dozed off behind the wheel and rear-ended a pickup at 55/60 was the airbag. you couldnt even tell it was a escape anymore from looking at the front end.
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I was rear ended last march. I was stopped in my F-150, lady hit me from behind in a VW Passat doing at least 60-65mph. She hit me so hard she used my drive shaft to rip the engine off the engine mounts. She walked away without any injuries. She surely would have died without the airbags.

 

[19Walt93]

I was rear ended last march. I was stopped in my F-150, lady hit me from behind in a VW Passat doing at least 60-65mph. She hit me so hard she used my drive shaft to rip the engine off the engine mounts. She walked away without any injuries. She surely would have died without the airbags.

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That looks like a clear, straight section of road, I don't know where she was looking but it obviously wasn't where she was going.
That airbag prevented natural selection from working. I know, that's cold and I'm a jerk, but what if a kid was crossing the road in front of her instead?

 

[Roert42]

That looks like a clear, straight section of road, I don't know where she was looking but it obviously wasn't where she was going.
That airbag prevented natural selection from working. I know, that's cold and I'm a jerk, but what if a kid was crossing the road in front of her instead?

I was stopped behind a school bus, and about half a dozen other cars.

She was looking at a cell phone. I know for a fact because after I climbed out the passenger side of my truck, I went and opened the door of her car to see if she was ok. There she sat holding her cellphone, a state of shock.

Without those airbags we would have one less distracted driver on the road. I would like to say that’s “the hard way” of getting people off their phones while in the car, but frankly it’s probably easier then convincing people that it can wait.

 

[19Walt93]

I was stopped behind a school bus, and about half a dozen other cars.

She was looking at a cell phone. I know for a fact because after I climbed out the passenger side of my truck, I went and opened the door of her car to see if she was ok. There she sat holding her cellphone, a state of shock.

Without those airbags we would have one less distracted driver on the road. I would like to say that’s “the hard way” of getting people off their phones while in the car, but frankly it’s probably easier then convincing people that it can wait.

I think using a cell phone while driving should be treated differently by the law. If a cop sees you playing with your phone/texting/whatever, it should be a traffic ticket- maybe careless and negligent driving, with loss of license and a fine. If you run into another vehicle or a person it's not an accident, it's driving to endanger, loss of license and a big fine with hiked insurance rates. If anyone is hurt, it's assault, extended loss of license, huge fine, maybe jail time based on how serious the injuries are, and maximum insurance rates. If anyone dies, it's either negligent homicide or manslaughter and jail time(I think it would be 7-15 in NH) and lifetime loss of license.

 

[Dirtman]

I think using a cell phone while driving should be treated differently by the law. If a cop sees you playing with your phone/texting/whatever, it should be a traffic ticket- maybe careless and negligent driving, with loss of license and a fine. If you run into another vehicle or a person it's not an accident, it's driving to endanger, loss of license and a big fine with hiked insurance rates. If anyone is hurt, it's assault, extended loss of license, huge fine, maybe jail time based on how serious the injuries are, and maximum insurance rates. If anyone dies, it's either negligent homicide or manslaughter and jail time(I think it would be 7-15 in NH) and lifetime loss of license.

I agree 100%. When you engange in dangerous behavior that could harm others the government should step in and enforce laws with harsh fines and penalities for such a activity. Unless of course it's at all inconvenient then it's government overreach and they should back off!

 

[don4331]

It should make you nervous, it's important to sit at least 10"-12" away from the airbag. I brought an airbag from a used steering column I bought for my daughter's old car into the shop and set it off during lunch one day- for 2 reasons (1) who doesn't like explosions? and (2) if the manual says to depower the airbag before a procedure, I wanted my techs to do it. I sat the bag on the floor with the upholstered side up and it flew 10' in the air from the rebound, if I'd had it upholstery down it probably would have gone through the roof. I hate those things, buckle the seat belt, adjust the seat and headrest properly, stay sober, put your "smart" phone down, and you won't need airbags.

I wish that was the case: Dale Earnhardt was killed because while he was belted into his car, nothing stopped his head from continuing forward. Which is why NASCAR drivers now are required to use HANS device. If you think seatbelts are restrictive and uncomfortable, you should try driving with HANS.

Much as I too hate air bags, they have saved the lives of couple people in Rangers I have restored so I can't dismiss them.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

I wish that was the case: Dale Earnhardt was killed because while he was belted into his car, nothing stopped his head from continuing forward. Which is why NASCAR drivers now are required to use HANS device. If you think seatbelts are restrictive and uncomfortable, you should try driving with HANS.

Much as I too hate air bags, they have saved the lives of couple people in Rangers I have restored so I can't dismiss them.

For the uninitiated ("What's a HANS device?"), this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HANS_device

 

[sgtsandman]

Some states have handheld devices laws. Some even have laws against hands free measures like a blue tooth ear piece. I don’t think PA is that strict but they do have laws about using a cell phone while driving. Not that it’s enforced. Heck, I see the police driving around with a phone to their ear pretty regularly.

On long trips, the phone is clamped into a holder and I have a bluetooth ear piece in. On short trips, I don’t answer it at all. It can wait until I get where I need to get.

 

[Roert42]

Some states have handheld devices laws. Some even have laws against hands free measures like a blue tooth ear piece. I don’t think PA is that strict but they do have laws about using a cell phone while driving. Not that it’s enforced. Heck, I see the police driving around with a phone to their ear pretty regularly.

On long trips, the phone is clamped into a holder and I have a bluetooth ear piece in. On short trips, I don’t answer it at all. It can wait until I get where I need to get.

In most states I believe police are exempt from distracted driving laws so they can you their computers and radios while driving.


It's ok they're "specially trained" to use a laptop while driving.....

 

[scotts90ranger]

In Oregon it's a pretty serious offense and before Rona it was enforced pretty heavily, now you have to be doing something pretty stupid to get pulled over, just now seeing more people pulled over so that might be coming back...

 

[Dirtman]

It's ok they're "specially trained" to use a laptop while driving.....

Do teenage girls teach that course at the police academy?

 

[89Twincharge]

I was rear ended last march. I was stopped in my F-150, lady hit me from behind in a VW Passat doing at least 60-65mph. She hit me so hard she used my drive shaft to rip the engine off the engine mounts. She walked away without any injuries. She surely would have died without the airbags.

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Love the wheels!

 

[89Twincharge]

The most inconvenient think about rangers are the 55mph folding mirrors... I'm about to drill a hole an put a set screw in them!!!

 

[scotts90ranger]

On the first/second gen flag mirrors you can drill off the mushed pot metal holding the spring plate down then drill/tap the posts for a machine screw, works well, I think I just have sheet metal screws tensioning mine...

 

[cbxer55]

I put Street Scene aerodynamic mirrors on mine. They don't move at 100 mph.