CRASH: The documentary that everyone should watch.

[XDV800]

With the continual debates that will forever emerge on the forums in regards to accidents, fatalities, laws, safety, attitudes, etc, I thought it would be beneficial to all to share these links to a documentary series that was created in the late 90's (98 or 99 i think).
It highlights the inadequacies of people to be able to control what is essentially a killing machine, and at the end of the day we will never be able to stamp out 'crashes' completely.
It doesn't pull any punches and has input from a few people (scientists and campaigners) that have been influencial in the evolution of road safety in the last 60 years.
I hope it offers some of the people that use the forums some more clues about what is clearly misunderstood by a vast majority on here. Could even be a sticky?!?
There is over 2 hours worth of viewing altogether in the 3 episodes, but it is worthwhile IMO
This 1st episode briefly explores the history of vehicle safety.
The revelation that the big 3 stalled safety improvements for nearly 20 years because paying out lawsuits would be a cheaper option than implementing safety devices in each assembled car, is chilling.

PT 1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzuGN...eature=related
PT 2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai0yI...eature=related
PT 3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jS3u...eature=related
PT 4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLrMa...eature=related
PT 5http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty0sG...eature=related
PT 6http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCN6K...eature=related

[XDV800]

This is the really educational episode. Much watch this one.
Delves into the psychy of drivers.

The stand out for me is the driving instructor that points out that if airbags make us feel safer and compel us to drive faster and with more negligence, then what if the airbag was replaced with a bayonet or a long spike poking out of the steering wheel aimed at our face. We would drive with more care then wouldn't we!

Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUBlS...eature=related
Pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXRaR...eature=related
Pt 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wnpK...eature=related
Pt 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cP_1...eature=related
Pt 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIEe...eature=related
Pt 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6GWa...eature=related

[hhaannkkyy]

These should be shown in Senior High School!

[XDV800]

This final episode takes in the views of those whose job it is to investigate the aftermath of crashes.

Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PfUk...eature=related
Pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2AYu...eature=related
Pt 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L6rK...eature=related
Pt 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL6B3...eature=related
Pt 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMUqv...eature=related
Pt 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf50S...eature=related

Enjoy!

[XDV800]

Wow, only 1 person has commented. I guess everybodies view on road crashes is pretty much what is contained in the documentary, no discussion necessary.
I'll just go and look at some other threads...

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by yzfr101

Wow, only 1 person has commented. I guess everybodies view on road crashes is pretty much what is contained in the documentary, no discussion necessary.
I'll just go and look at some other threads...

I've downloaded the three doco's and burnt them onto DVD, watching now...

[geckoGT]

Where did you download them as the quality on youtube is crap?

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Where did you download them as the quality on youtube is crap?

Would also be interested to know.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Where did you download them as the quality on youtube is crap?

I downloaded from youtube using "Free YouTube dowload converter".

Yes the quality is quite poor, but at least it is better than watching it on the laptop

[2.8L Hilux]

Mate thanks heaps for posting this up. I remember watching this series when I was about 9 years old (I'm now 19) and still remember it well. I called the ABC a few years back asking if it was available on dvd but it wasn't.

Thanks again for posting this. I'm watching it now

[gtfpv]

brilliant thread . i hope this does become a sticky . its great to see a thread like this opposing threads like " safe speeding"

[Mickxr8]

very interesting read. will add my 2c worth later if this thread takes off

[geckoGT]

Well, I have finally finished watching the whole series and I have to say what a good series, in view of todays media focus on road safety and the road toll, it is almost negligent of our media not to re screen this.

A couple of points struck me in this, mainly how far we have come but how many of the basics of road trauma have not changed. Unfortunately in mentioning them I will probably pick scabs off some old wounds here but bear with me.

First of there is the issue of seat belts. We saw the opposition to both the introduction of seat belts to motor vehicles and the compulsory use of them by motorists. Yes we have come a long way since the 50's and 60's, to a point that a seatbelt is generally second nature to getting into the car. But we are not at a point where we can commence back slapping yet. We still have groups that refuse to wear seat belts, we even have discussion on this forum that discuss how to disable warning chimes because they are annoying. On this I would like to raise one point that I found mind-blowing, in the 50's they had crashes occurring at 10 Mph that were resulting in deaths. Ok our vehicles now have more padding inside and crumple zones, but that just means you might survive double that speed. You might only be traveling at 15 km/h and feeling safe without a belt because of your low speed, but if you get hit head on by car traveling at 80, you are going to have a steering wheel in your chest. Why is it so inconvenient to wear a belt, is it more inconvenient than a ruptured liver, ruptured spleen or transection of the aorta (all common and lethal unrestrained driver injuries).

The second one is the talk of driver training and namely the teaching of advanced driver training. They mention that this training is ineffective in the reduction of the road toll and promoting of road safety. They make this claim on the basis of this training does not reduce the likelihood of being in an crash, in some cases it increases the incidence of road crashes due to increased risk taking and higher speeds involved as evidenced by the frequency of crash in race drivers compared to general motorists. I can see where this observation has come from and to be honest I agree completely. However, I think this observation is now a bit dated as advanced driver training is no longer about slide control and speed work. Yes there is a minor component of this but advanced driver training now focusses on methods of vehicle control, hazard management, preparedness and driver attitude, more than controlling a slide. Now it is more about not getting into a slide in the first place.

They also mentioned road design and safety mechanisms built into the road system a number of times. This I find interesting as they basically said that although it is worthwhile and it does have its place, it is not the answer to a road safety problem. They made the interesting observation that as road design improves and higher speeds are possible, the speed of the crash increases and the trauma continues, just a larger scale. They posed a valid question on it being a "cost effective" means of increasing road safety.

One that is so relevant here is vehicle capabilities, how many here believe because they have a high performance car with increased handling and braking capabilities, are less likely to be in a crash? I have to admit that I am sometimes to prone to falling into this mindset. It is easy to think that because I have two cars that both have high performance tyres, high performance suspension and big brakes, I can better handle whatever comes at me on the road. They pose the question of do all these features actually increase my risk taking as I just drive to the limit of those increased capabilities? I think in my own situation it does not, I do not drive my cars to anywhere near their capabilities and I certainly don't drive faster or corner as hard as other cars I see on the road that have half the capability. Having said that, I can see where their point comes from. Think of this, how many pictures of commodores or falcons do we see that were in a crash that ended in a fatality or serious injury? Now how many pictures of Ferrari, lamborghini, bugatti etc do we see in a similar state? I bet the number of crashed super cars compared to number built is a lot higher than family hacks, if that makes sense.

There were many other points and too many to mention but I will close my novel on the two biggest ones.

First off is the subject of speed, according to them it does kill. The make mention of this a number of times and the message that rang so true to me is it is speed in inappropriate conditions that is lethal. So many members here quote the autobahn as the answer to traveling in safety at speed but consider this, when they have accidents they are huge with multiple fatalities. Their road toll was so bad they had to bring in a helicopter rescue service to handle the casualties. Imagine if we had 2010 vehicle safety mechanisms with 1940 vehicle speeds, the road toll would be a quarter of what it is now.

The final and most important point that I took away, road safety requires a multi pronged attack to make serious improvements. These efforts are required in driver education, driver attitude, road regulations/enforcement, road design and vehicle safety mechanisms. Out of all these options, the biggest improvements are made in the cheapest, our attitude. The first and final responsibility is with us, the road user from the moment we put the keys in it to the time we take them out and everywhere in between.

Sorry about the novel!