I thought this was pretty interesting, and shows how a small change could make a big difference.

Huge cost of mismatched bumpers - YouTube

 

Shhhhhh!!!!
Don't tell anybody!
I make a living because of stuff like this.

 

Instead of creating more foolish restrictions on vehicles... how about people just learn to drive. Crazy idea, I know. Aligning the bumpers won't fix the problem of being hit. Hell, if anything, car manufactures shoul dbe forced to build stronger bumpers so a 5mph crash doesn't total the vehicle.

I miss old cars.

 

I dont. I would rather total my car and walk away clean than die or be seriously injured.

And I can say that. I totaled a truck and walked away under my own power with only a bruise. If i was an "old truck" I would have died, no doubt about it.

 

I've owned vehicles ranging from 1970-2005, and with the exception of airbags, I don't think many newer vehicles are any safer. Larger yes, but many, especially smaller/compact cars, just crumple. I mean crumple. The old cars were rough, yes, but they were stronger.

Let me put it like this, in high school my best friend owned a 95ish tacoma, and I a 70 dart swinger. Even in the bigger snow storms, which one do you thing we took?

Just my $.02

 

Here's an old car (1959 Impala) crashing head on into a modern car (2009 Malibu.) I know which one I'd rather be in.
Crash test Chevrolet 1959 vs Chevrolet 2009 - YouTube

 

So much has changed since the 70s in car safety. I would take a modern car over an old truck any day.

(As my personal daily driver that is)

 

Don't get me wrong, I have no doubt that there are many very safe vehicles out there today. But I think many of them, especially the compacts and smart cars are death traps. I saw a pic of a bike and a smart car... i doubt either driver lived.

Either way, with pretty much any modern vehicle, any accident is catastrophic, safe or not. Everything plastic breaks. Especially up here in the cold. Shatters.

I hate plastic on my vehicles.