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1964 VW Beetle safety?
I was told that old Volkswagen bugs are really dangerous cars as far as surviving a wreck goes. I can't really find much information about them online though. Anybody know why they're particularly more dangerous than normal cars? I'd imagine because they're small and might not have proper airbag systems or safety restraints or that kind of thing, but I really don't know. Thanks in advance!
4 Answers
- Dimo JLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
People know that new cars are "safer", with air bags and crush zones. Because they know they are "safe" they drive faster. When they crash they have more injuries and more deaths / accidents than we had in the '70's.
Avoid collisions, keep your speeds below speed limits, and the old Beetle will be safer than the new cars.
- ?Lv 68 years ago
The car is extremely lightweight (~1,800 lbs) compared to other cars on the road these days (full sized SUV ~5,500 lbs). That gives it an automatic disadvantage in any multi-car collision. A light car will experience much greater deceleration and impact damage. Add to that the fact that cars of that era were not designed with the kind of crumple zones and safety cages that are universal today. Also, a car of that vintage is bound to have lost some of it's original integrity due to rust or other damage. Interior surfaces including the dash were typically unpadded steel at that time (now they are energy absorbing materials). There was no ABS. And others have already mentioned the seatbelt, head restraint, air bag and handling disadvantages. It would not even be close to legal to sell that car brand new in the US today due to safety deficiencies.
- FlagMichaelLv 78 years ago
The rear engine, swing axle combination is a tricky one to master. People who didn't have the skills to keep it under control under emergency conditions paid the price. In addition, the passenger compartment is nowhere near the modern standards. Check out the slide show in the source - three of the accidents were side impacts with stationary objects... the bug was sliding when it hit. In the second and third, notice the horrific damage from the side impact.
Source(s): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEBlDHkqNnQ - edward bLv 58 years ago
Back in 1964 the speed limit on the hwy was 70 mph. The cars and the VW bug back then came out with bias tires and you are lucky to find a seat belt. Not even close to air bag equimped. It wasnt until 1969, auto makers were required to install head rests, over the shoulder seat belts as well as around the waist seat belts in the front seats, and around the waist seat belts in the rear seats. It took a number of bad accidents back then to make the change.
