Comments on: Looking Through Narrow Windows http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/ The Blog that Talks about Climate Change Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:33:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: ClimateHeretic http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/#comment-223 ClimateHeretic Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:07:30 +0000 http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/#comment-223 This is true and I agree with you almost 100%. I just do not think safety claims based on vehicle construction and weight using North American Standards are outrageous or ill-founded, nor IMO are they reason enough to resist this change, I say this goes in the For Information Purposes Only book. Plus I apologize for my "Canadian" spelling of Peugeot :) perhaps I should have used Leon from my white-knuckle driving experience in Spain. This is true and I agree with you almost 100%. I just do not think safety claims based on vehicle construction and weight using North American Standards are outrageous or ill-founded, nor IMO are they reason enough to resist this change, I say this goes in the For Information Purposes Only book.

Plus I apologize for my “Canadian” spelling of Peugeot :) perhaps I should have used Leon from my white-knuckle driving experience in Spain.

]]> By: Green Team http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/#comment-220 Green Team Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:22:35 +0000 http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/#comment-220 Sure, there are shortcomings in the data that is presented in the report. We looked at several others in addition, all of which showed that Europe fared better on accident statistics, but none of which provided the detail that you requested. Ultimately we believe that in general you are safer on the roads in Europe. Interestingly, if you take countries such as France, Italy and Spain out the equation and focus on Northern European countries only then the difference is even more marked between EU and US. In Europe I am far more likely to be rammed in my Peugeot by another Peugeot. If the average weight of other vehicles on the road is decreased then safety will likely be increased. Smaller vehicles stop and maneuver more quickly than larger vehicles. Many of the safety advanced achieved in the past such as seat-belts, airbags, crumple zones, safety cells, ABS and stability control have been achieved with a minimal weight penalty. Weight does not automatically equate to safety. Sure, there are shortcomings in the data that is presented in the report. We looked at several others in addition, all of which showed that Europe fared better on accident statistics, but none of which provided the detail that you requested. Ultimately we believe that in general you are safer on the roads in Europe.

Interestingly, if you take countries such as France, Italy and Spain out the equation and focus on Northern European countries only then the difference is even more marked between EU and US.

In Europe I am far more likely to be rammed in my Peugeot by another Peugeot. If the average weight of other vehicles on the road is decreased then safety will likely be increased. Smaller vehicles stop and maneuver more quickly than larger vehicles.

Many of the safety advanced achieved in the past such as seat-belts, airbags, crumple zones, safety cells, ABS and stability control have been achieved with a minimal weight penalty. Weight does not automatically equate to safety.

]]> By: ClimateHeretic http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/#comment-219 ClimateHeretic Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:40:06 +0000 http://www.talkclimatechange.com/2008/01/03/looking-through-narrow-windows/#comment-219 Just read your linked report you cite and it is rubbish. Where is the comparison in distance driven per year, time spent operating or riding in a motor vehicle per year. Passenger vs driver statistics? How about some accident rates based on regional traffic density. What percent are recreational driving accidents. I believe in the new mileage standards for 2020, I think they should have been by 2015, but if a Lincoln Navigator rams into my Puegot, I am going to get way more injured. Yet that is not any reason to not do it, but it does not invalidate the claims of increased risk in lighter vehicles. Seem strange the green team blamed humans again, just saying. Just read your linked report you cite and it is rubbish. Where is the comparison in distance driven per year, time spent operating or riding in a motor vehicle per year. Passenger vs driver statistics? How about some accident rates based on regional traffic density. What percent are recreational driving accidents.

I believe in the new mileage standards for 2020, I think they should have been by 2015, but if a Lincoln Navigator rams into my Puegot, I am going to get way more injured.

Yet that is not any reason to not do it, but it does not invalidate the claims of increased risk in lighter vehicles.

Seem strange the green team blamed humans again, just saying.

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