6 ms·

The pillars keep getting thicker so they can support the weight of the vehicle in a rollover, and also to provide space for the side curtain airbags. This creat

by orev 5y ago

The pillars keep getting thicker so they can support the weight of the vehicle in a rollover, and also to provide space for the side curtain airbags. This creates bigger blind spots since you can’t have glass there anymore, so these other safety systems help to make up for the reduced visibility.

mhb 5y ago
It's almost hilarious that the safety requirements for cars keep getting more stringent yet it's perfectly fine to sit on top of an engine and two wheels and drive down the road at any speed without any safety equipment at all.
- supertrope 5y ago
  It's almost like car drivers and motorcyclists have different consumer preferences for safety and that carries over to how they lobby their politicians on traffic laws.
  - mhb 5y ago
    Right. Sort of like the consumer preference for risk vs. cost for various safety equipment in cars could be expressed were it not for mandates for "minimal" amounts of safety equipment.
    - JKCalhoun 5y ago
      Maybe. Reasonable people will look at a motorcycle and know full well they will lose in a collision ... with anything. Not as easy to make an informed choice about cars. The high incidence of rollovers for SUVs comes to mind. Apparently consumers had no idea that the Ford Bronco (as an example) was as deadly as it was. I agree, it would be nice if we allowed for relaxed safety on cars as long as they were in their own category — sort of like dune buggies or something so consumers knew the trade-offs they were making.
      - viraptor 5y ago
        There already is one in most places - you can register a "special" car which many vintage car enthusiasts have to do. If you're happy with the steering wheel going through your chest on collision, or drive a DIY dune buggy, that's the category you can use. But it's funny you mentioned that - dune buggies with roll bars are great for rolling over and keeping you safe. On the other hand, most widely available sport convertibles are not.
  - 1270018080 5y ago
    It's a great example on how people aren't good at making decisions for themselves.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago
  It might be that people want to drive motorcycles, and honestly what can you possibly do to make them anywhere near as safe as a 5-star safety rated car? Although I wouldn't be opposed to motorcycles being outlawed - I can't even imagine an America where this happens. So what else can you possibly do?
  - mod 5y ago
    Out of curiosity, and full disclosure-- as a motorcycle owner: Why would you be okay with them being outlawed? Just because it doesn't affect you?
    - gene91 5y ago
      The parent post said "I wouldn't be opposed to motorcycles being outlawed". They didn't advocate for outlawing motorcycles. I think "Just because it doesn't affect you" is a fine reason to have a "no objection" position. I can see why you may feel offended, but I don't think the parent post deserves your anger.
      - shkkmo 5y ago
        I think we all have an obligation to stand up for the rights of other people, even when the violation of those rights doesn't affect us directly. Stating a lack of opposition to the removal of those isn't just "not caring" is actively taking a stance that you believe those rights have no value. I think requesting justification for that stance is reasonable and not an expression of "anger".
        ClumsyPilot 5y ago
        "driving a dangerous contraption" may or may not be reasonable, but it is not really a right in the same way as freedom of speech and right to a fair trial
        shkkmo 5y ago
- ezconnect 5y ago
  Maybe because cars carry more passengers than a motorcycle and the passengers don't know the risk.
- throwaway0a5e 5y ago
  The fact that motorcycling is a choice that none of the "think of the children" pearl clutchers make means that it is fairly immune to their lobbying efforts.
bitbckt 5y ago
> … and also to provide space for the side curtain airbags. … which increases the weight the pillars need to support, which causes the pillars to get thicker, &c.
snotrockets 5y ago
A different mirror design would also help, but those are forbidden in the US (fun trick – if the European version of the car has similar mirror mounting, order the glass from there)

by orev 5y ago

mhb 5y ago

It's almost hilarious that the safety requirements for cars keep getting more stringent yet it's perfectly fine to sit on top of an engine and two wheels and drive down the road at any speed without any safety equipment at all.

supertrope 5y ago
It's almost like car drivers and motorcyclists have different consumer preferences for safety and that carries over to how they lobby their politicians on traffic laws.
- mhb 5y ago
  Right. Sort of like the consumer preference for risk vs. cost for various safety equipment in cars could be expressed were it not for mandates for "minimal" amounts of safety equipment.
  - JKCalhoun 5y ago
    Maybe. Reasonable people will look at a motorcycle and know full well they will lose in a collision ... with anything. Not as easy to make an informed choice about cars. The high incidence of rollovers for SUVs comes to mind. Apparently consumers had no idea that the Ford Bronco (as an example) was as deadly as it was. I agree, it would be nice if we allowed for relaxed safety on cars as long as they were in their own category — sort of like dune buggies or something so consumers knew the trade-offs they were making.
    - viraptor 5y ago
      There already is one in most places - you can register a "special" car which many vintage car enthusiasts have to do. If you're happy with the steering wheel going through your chest on collision, or drive a DIY dune buggy, that's the category you can use. But it's funny you mentioned that - dune buggies with roll bars are great for rolling over and keeping you safe. On the other hand, most widely available sport convertibles are not.
- 1270018080 5y ago
  It's a great example on how people aren't good at making decisions for themselves.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
onlyrealcuzzo 5y ago
It might be that people want to drive motorcycles, and honestly what can you possibly do to make them anywhere near as safe as a 5-star safety rated car? Although I wouldn't be opposed to motorcycles being outlawed - I can't even imagine an America where this happens. So what else can you possibly do?
- mod 5y ago
  Out of curiosity, and full disclosure-- as a motorcycle owner: Why would you be okay with them being outlawed? Just because it doesn't affect you?
  - gene91 5y ago
    The parent post said "I wouldn't be opposed to motorcycles being outlawed". They didn't advocate for outlawing motorcycles. I think "Just because it doesn't affect you" is a fine reason to have a "no objection" position. I can see why you may feel offended, but I don't think the parent post deserves your anger.
    - shkkmo 5y ago
      I think we all have an obligation to stand up for the rights of other people, even when the violation of those rights doesn't affect us directly. Stating a lack of opposition to the removal of those isn't just "not caring" is actively taking a stance that you believe those rights have no value. I think requesting justification for that stance is reasonable and not an expression of "anger".
      - ClumsyPilot 5y ago
        "driving a dangerous contraption" may or may not be reasonable, but it is not really a right in the same way as freedom of speech and right to a fair trial
        shkkmo 5y ago
ezconnect 5y ago
Maybe because cars carry more passengers than a motorcycle and the passengers don't know the risk.
throwaway0a5e 5y ago
The fact that motorcycling is a choice that none of the "think of the children" pearl clutchers make means that it is fairly immune to their lobbying efforts.

bitbckt 5y ago

> … and also to provide space for the side curtain airbags. … which increases the weight the pillars need to support, which causes the pillars to get thicker, &c.

snotrockets 5y ago

A different mirror design would also help, but those are forbidden in the US (fun trick – if the European version of the car has similar mirror mounting, order the glass from there)