Comments on: The Weekly Carnage http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Crankedmag http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31400 Crankedmag Sat, 05 May 2007 07:43:24 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31400 There's of course this by Gladwell too: http://gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html. One thing that always crosses my mind when I see out of control speeders are the car commercials, and how you just can't drive like they do on TV. There’s of course this by Gladwell too: http://gladwell.com/2004/2004_01_12_a_suv.html.

One thing that always crosses my mind when I see out of control speeders are the car commercials, and how you just can’t drive like they do on TV.

]]> By: jk http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31397 jk Sat, 05 May 2007 02:46:04 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31397 At a minimum cabs--- which are heavily regulated and operate as an ancillary to public transit --- could have speed data retrieved from their black boxes when they are involved in a crash. Anyone interested in the evils of the SUV should read Keith Bradsher's outstanding book "High and Mighty." Bradsher was the Detroit reporter for the Times. His book delves into the psychological profiling of the vehicle itself, its creators and its would be owners. Part of the scam was/is creating an arms race effect in which motorists constantly have to buy a bigger vehicle to feel safe from other big vehicles. Incidentally, federal regulators seem not to care that a number of studies have shown SUVs are far more lethal to pedestrians than sedan type cars. At a minimum cabs— which are heavily regulated and operate as an ancillary to public transit — could have speed data retrieved from their black boxes when they are involved in a crash.

Anyone interested in the evils of the SUV should read Keith Bradsher’s outstanding book “High and Mighty.” Bradsher was the Detroit reporter for the Times. His book delves into the psychological profiling of the vehicle itself, its creators and its would be owners. Part of the scam was/is creating an arms race effect in which motorists constantly have to buy a bigger vehicle to feel safe from other big vehicles. Incidentally, federal regulators seem not to care that a number of studies have shown SUVs are far more lethal to pedestrians than sedan type cars.

]]> By: Nicolo Macchiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31394 Nicolo Macchiavelli Fri, 04 May 2007 22:32:35 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31394 SUVs and Pick Ups and 4x4s all have a very high center of gravity. They roll over easily. Newer models have tried to bring down that center of gravity to more safe levels but they are still high and will always flip easily. Ironic that they are marketed as safe because of their size. The high center of gravity is good off road or in the winter. But most of the time they are on the road and there is no snow on the ground. Good on the farm not Farmers Blvd. Another basic character flaw and a very important safety aspect is Line of Sight (L.O.S.). They are hard to see out of and they are hard to see around and behind. Also, it is hard to see pedestrians between and behind them on a block crowded with SUVs. Don't try to tell anyone driving them this though. Once someone drops $35,000 convincing the wife that she and the kids will be safer in that behemoth denial will be very strong. Undeniable denial. I abhor the techno arguments, you guys know I'm all about the politics but...allow me a techno shot at this piece. The more important piece here is from Newsday on the techno nannies that you can install to peak on what your kids are doing. Believe it or not all of that information is already in every vehicle. Safe street advocates should take on accessing the event recorders (black boxes) in every modern vehicles computer system. It is quite easy to envision a monitoring system that would socialize this information and discipline those who violate. Like I said, I generally stay away from the techno wizardry but the Newsday piece is pretty compelling. Plus the State of New Jersey just opened Corzine's black box. Thats a hell of a precedent. SUVs and Pick Ups and 4x4s all have a very high center of gravity. They roll over easily. Newer models have tried to bring down that center of gravity to more safe levels but they are still high and will always flip easily. Ironic that they are marketed as safe because of their size. The high center of gravity is good off road or in the winter. But most of the time they are on the road and there is no snow on the ground. Good on the farm not Farmers Blvd.

Another basic character flaw and a very important safety aspect is Line of Sight (L.O.S.). They are hard to see out of and they are hard to see around and behind. Also, it is hard to see pedestrians between and behind them on a block crowded with SUVs.

Don’t try to tell anyone driving them this though. Once someone drops $35,000 convincing the wife that she and the kids will be safer in that behemoth denial will be very strong. Undeniable denial.

I abhor the techno arguments, you guys know I’m all about the politics but…allow me a techno shot at this piece. The more important piece here is from Newsday on the techno nannies that you can install to peak on what your kids are doing. Believe it or not all of that information is already in every vehicle. Safe street advocates should take on accessing the event recorders (black boxes) in every modern vehicles computer system. It is quite easy to envision a monitoring system that would socialize this information and discipline those who violate.

Like I said, I generally stay away from the techno wizardry but the Newsday piece is pretty compelling. Plus the State of New Jersey just opened Corzine’s black box. Thats a hell of a precedent.

]]> By: Aaron Naparstek http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31381 Aaron Naparstek Fri, 04 May 2007 18:47:36 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31381 That suv in park slope flipped at about 830 am. Article is wrong re time. During the "one way no way" fight we clocked vehicles at 45 mph on that section of 8th ave. That suv in park slope flipped at about 830 am. Article is wrong re time. During the “one way no way” fight we clocked vehicles at 45 mph on that section of 8th ave.

]]> By: lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31379 lee Fri, 04 May 2007 15:03:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31379 see, i'm thinking that at 530pm there is just too much traffic to get enough speed up to do such a thing. even at 40mph i wouldn't think you could flip your car. maybe I'm wrong. and apropos of nothing I just want to say I'm really annoyed at: 1) double parkers 2) double parkers who open their doors into traffic 3) people who cross the street: a) without looking, b) against the light; especially i) when it has just turned green in the motorists favor c) from between two parked cars and then walk at an acute angle halfway down the block with their back to traffic d) don't hold their child's hand e) are ugly. see, i’m thinking that at 530pm there is just too much traffic to get enough speed up to do such a thing. even at 40mph i wouldn’t think you could flip your car. maybe I’m wrong.

and apropos of nothing I just want to say I’m really annoyed at:
1) double parkers
2) double parkers who open their doors into traffic
3) people who cross the street:
a) without looking,
b) against the light; especially
i) when it has just turned green in the motorists favor
c) from between two parked cars and then walk at an acute angle halfway down the block with their back to traffic
d) don’t hold their child’s hand
e) are ugly.

]]> By: Steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31378 Steve Fri, 04 May 2007 14:34:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31378 the back-over article is very important. There's tons of information out there on "front-overs" as well, due to the large "blind spot" immediately in the front Hummers and certain other high-wheelbase vehicles, especially with short drivers. Here's an example: http://kidsandcars.org/news/starledger11_03.pdf.These SUV manufacturers are destined for massive product liability--haven't they learned yet? the back-over article is very important. There’s tons of information out there on “front-overs” as well, due to the large “blind spot” immediately in the front Hummers and certain other high-wheelbase vehicles, especially with short drivers. Here’s an example: http://kidsandcars.org/news/starledger11_03.pdf.These SUV manufacturers are destined for massive product liability–haven’t they learned yet?

]]> By: Steve http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31377 Steve Fri, 04 May 2007 14:27:41 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31377 No kidding. That's why you need an SUV--to rush through park slope at 40+ MPH with carrying lots of useless crap No kidding. That’s why you need an SUV–to rush through park slope at 40+ MPH with carrying lots of useless crap

]]> By: lee http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/comment-page-1/#comment-31376 lee Fri, 04 May 2007 14:06:33 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/05/04/the-weekly-carnage-38/#comment-31376 how fast do you have to be going to flip your SUV? geez. how fast do you have to be going to flip your SUV? geez.

]]>