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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / September 2004Most SUV bumpers are useless
If you drive a SUV, expect $2000 damage in a collision at 5 mph (walking speed). sources: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5961831/ http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2004/pr091304.htm ______________________________________________________________________ The first federal bumper standard started with 1973 models when 5 mph front-into-flat-barrier and 2.5 mph rear-into-barrier requirements were introduced. The following year rear impact speed was increased to 5 mph. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a bumper standard requirement prohibiting all but very minor cosmetic bumper damage starting with 1980 models. The effects were dramatic. Cars were designed to withstand low-speed impacts with virtually no damage. Despite the success of this standard, the DOT bowed to pressure from automakers and rolled back requirements from 5 to 2.5 mph for 1983 and later models. Current bumper standards specify that bumpers and safety-related equipment must withstand a 2.5 mph crash without sustaining damage. This applies to passenger cars only and does not include minivans. source: http://www.ohioinsurance.org/factbook2001/chapter2/chapter_2b.htm ____________________________________________________________________ Although many manufacturers voluntarily include bumper performance information on the window stickers of new passenger cars sold in United States, only California and Hawaii have bumper performance disclosure laws that require manufacturers to be specific about its performance capabilities. source: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/studies/Bumper/Index.html ____________________________________________________________________ bumper ratings: http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ratings.htm > If you drive a SUV, expect $2000 damage in a > collision at 5 mph (walking speed). then don't collide at 5 mph... as a matter of fact, learn to drive so you don't collide... keep a safe driving distance. don't tail gate. drive defensive and not aggressive. drive as though a cop is behind you. SUV's are luxuries, expect to pay a bit more (including insr and fuel). if you drive a lamborgini, expect to pay much much more... if you drive an escort, expect to pay much much less... it was a pain in the a.s changing the oil in my honda civic. no problem changing the oil on my durango. but i didn't buy the durango just to make oil changes easy. so i would assume SUV owners didn't make their purchase based on damage cost at 5 mph. -a|ex > but i didn't buy the durango just to make oil changes easy. > so i would assume SUV owners didn't make their purchase based on damage cost > at 5 mph. No, they made the selection of a SportUtility vehicle so they can go skiiing (the Sport part of it) and haul rocks and other building materials around (the Utility part of it) I would think that very few of them would think that their big tough utility vehicle couldn't withstand a tap on the bumper. Ted > I would think that very few of them would think that their big tough utility > vehicle > couldn't withstand a tap on the bumper. I've "tapped" my bumper many times - no damage. I had a Tempo tap it pretty hard, no damage to me... The test, as run, by IIHS and CR is bogus. CR in particular seems to have an axe to grind wrt SUVs and they exaggerate the improtance of any test that makes them look bad. The IIHS collison loss ratings indicate that many US built SUVs have much better than average collision loss ratings and all have better than average ratings (http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ictl/ictl_4wd_util.htm). If the bumpers were so bad, I beleive, the collision loss rating would reflect this. Regards, Ed White >> I would think that very few of them would think that their big tough >> utility vehicle [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > If the bumpers were so bad, I beleive, the collision loss > rating would reflect this. It also depends on how concerned the owner is about cosmetic damage. If they are only mildly concerned then they are unlikely to bother repairing it beyond making safe and will incur no cost. Huw The test, as run, is bogus anyhow. How often do you run into something at 5 mph without using the brakes to try and stop. As soon as braking is involved, the front end of the vehicle in the rear goes down, and the rear end of the vehicle in front goes up....presto, the bumpers don't match anyhow. I haven't run into anyone in a long time. Last time someone ran into me, my rear bumber wasn't even scratched. Unfortunately you couldn't say the same for the front of the other driver's car. The driver wasn't paying attention, and when the car in front of me stopped, I had to stop. The following driver was fiddling with his radio, and didn't begin to stop until it was too late. His car nose dived, and his bumper slid under my trailer hitch. Fortunately, I never leave the ball in my hitch, so at least he didn't poke that through his radiator. Ed > > If you drive a SUV, expect $2000 damage in a > > collision at 5 mph (walking speed). [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > -a|ex > The test, as run, is bogus anyhow. How often do you run into > something at 5 mph without using the brakes to try and stop. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > haven't run into anyone in a long time. Last time someone > ran into me, my rear bumber wasn't even scratched. My wife's first car was a '69 Buick Skylark (non-energy absorbing bumpers). She got rear-ended once by somebody with a newer car with the fat bumpers. What you said is *precisely* what happened to her. Her bumper was untouched so far as anyone could tell. The other guy's grille and headlights were demolished. So much for expensive bumpers.  SignatureTeGGeR? How to find anything on the Internet: www.google.com or in Usenet Groups: www.groups.google.com Google is your friend. Learn how to use it. >My wife's first car was a '69 Buick Skylark (non-energy absorbing bumpers). >She got rear-ended once by somebody with a newer car with the fat bumpers. >What you said is *precisely* what happened to her. Her bumper was untouched >so far as anyone could tell. The other guy's grille and headlights were >demolished. In a rear end crash, the vehicle behind is usually nose diving from panic braking. So its bumper goes under the bumper of the vehicle it crashes into. So its grille and headlights hit the bumper of the vehicle it crashes into. Signature------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timothy J. Lee Unsolicited bulk or commercial email is not welcome. No warranty of any kind is provided with this message. > If you drive a SUV, expect $2000 damage in a > collision at 5 mph (walking speed). > > sources: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5961831/ > http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2004/pr091304.htm Wow! Breaking news! Stop the presses! Where have *you* been for the last 31 years? Vehicles classed as trucks have *never* had to meet bumper standards. In fact, there are only two countries on the entire planet that even have bumper standards at all: The US and Canada. Nobody else. Nobody. Bumper standards were enacted at the behest of insurance companies, who were tired of rising claims due to "park-by-ear" driving techniques and wanted the gummint to bail them out. Unfortunately it backfired on them. Property-damage claims have been rising for years in spite of the fat bumpers. In fact, it may be BECAUSE of them, since people don't have to pay as much attention to what they're doing any more. How many times have you heard people brag that their bumpers absorbed such- and-such an impact when they rear-ended somebody and boy was it a good thing they had the fat bumpers. Same thing with air bags and seat belts. So go ahead, be as inattentive and stupid as you like, the machinery will save you. SignatureTeGGeR? How to find anything on the Internet: www.google.com or in Usenet Groups: www.groups.google.com Google is your friend. Learn how to use it. Ford has bumper standards for SUVs that place them on a par with passanger vehicles. > > If you drive a SUV, expect $2000 damage in a > > collision at 5 mph (walking speed). [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > > Google is your friend. Learn how to use it. Poorly phrased. At least Ford SUVs have bumpers placed at the same "height" as passanger vehicles. A first! > Ford has bumper standards for SUVs that place them on a par with > passanger vehicles. [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > > > Google is your friend. Learn how to use it. Bumpers have been useless for decades. No news here! |
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