Airbags, and anti-lock brakes don't reduce accidents?

[Rhode Island Red]

Just came across this article .

Apparently the anti-lock brakes and aribags have altered people's driving behavior, giving the people the false impression they can drive more agressively.

However, if you drive a car without these safety features and then you get behind the wheel of a newer car, you see the difference immediately," said Mannering, who owns a vintage MG sports car and a newer vehicle equipped with many of the latest safety technologies. "The contrast is dramatic. When I'm driving the MG, I definitely make a special effort not to tailgate or accelerate quickly when roads are slick because I don't have the antilock brakes, traction control and the other advanced safety features of the newer car.

Reading between the lines, the scientific study indirectly implies that the recent increase of agressive driving over the past 30 years is actually due to the more advanced safety equipment

It seems the more safety equipment cars get, the the more likely people are to drive agressively. Interesting results to say the least

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Anti lock brakes have saved my behind on several occasions of which was I driving aggressively.

[Steel2686]

I think most people here respect what cars are capable of. The overall majority, however, is another story. I firmly believe most people rely too heavily on safety features.

It's the same reason you see most yahoo's in SUV's driving way too fast for conditions in the snow. They feel because they have four-wheel drive, they'll be fine. I hate those people.

[Wild Willy]

There was a prediction, back in the 70's, when the government bumper standards were being introduced, that, as the standards continued to ratchet upward, from lower to higher MPH ratings with no frontal damage, that the day would come that we would all be driving around in bumper cars, ramming people in our way. Probably not too far from the truth.... At least that trend, the impact standards, was slowed down- I can't imaging today's drivers in cars that could, say, sustain a 20 MPH impact with no damage.

Do you really want to trust your health and life on a piece of technology that may have been assembled by a H.S. grad, after a 3 beer lunch? Do you want to risk your teeth or spleen on a connector that has seen 4 or 5 winters worth of salt spray?

I am more worried the darn airbag will go off when I don't want it to, driving over a curb or tapping a bumper in a parking lot. That sort of gets your attention!

[Mark B]

ABS should be standard on all cars. There are plenty of situations that they flatout stop better. I know alot of people that say they can stop the car better than ABS can. TOTAL BS. Try panic stopping on a rough road or a gravel road. Nevermind ICE!!!

[Barry 94Formula]

Another factor may be the overall increase in basic vehicle performance. Lets face it there are quite a few sedans out there that can kill a F-body or any number of performance cars. 500 and 600 hp cars are getting to be almost common place. If you have the fundage of course.

[Jay 02 TA ws6]

Just came across this article .

Apparently the anti-lock brakes and aribags have altered people's driving behavior, giving the people the false impression they can drive more agressively.

It's so funny, but 100% true. I remember my very first day in economics class, my economic professor explained this phenomenon. Basically, he said, "you want to truly REDUCE accidents? Take seat belts out of cars, use the bumpers as gas tanks, and place a big metal spike where that airbag is today."

[Dave Vince]

500 and 600 hp cars are commonplace? Maybe at the drag strip but not on the streets. Yes take your F body to the track even a modded one with juice and you will feel pretty slow at the drags, but on the street there are very few cars that come near my Z. What town do you live in?

[thenuge876]

I was just thinking something similar to this the other day. I've had a long commute on the train to school recently and have been doing a lot of reading and there are definately more and more cars out there with better handling safety features, suspension, and power, etc. etc. however the people who are driving them don't seem to respect the vehicles for what they are. It seems the more stuff they throw in it the more it gets abused because people think its just a bunch of cool stuff to let them go fast and avoid accidents while they talk on their cell phone while driving.