Awhile back I received a newsletter from my auto insurance carrier. The newsletter had an article concerning vehicle weight and injuries due to accidents. It said in each and every accident case, the occupants in the heavier vehicle had less injuries than the occupants in the lighter vehicle.

The Mercedes GLS weighs in around 7,000 pounds. I've compared its weight to numerous other SUVS and it seems to be one of the heavier SUVs on the market. Nowadays, you need all the help you can get because of COVID/texting/elderly drivers.

I was just thinking (I know dangerous, right?). Back when the autombile first hit the nation's highways, one AAA motor club petitioned all the states to REQUIRE car insurance and licensing for ALL drivers. Think, for a moment how many millions of $$$$$ flow into the coffers of car insurance companies annually. talk about making BANK!!!

Amazingly, once most people get their driver's license around 16 years of age they NEVER again receive any additional driver's training the REST OF THEIR DAYS ON THIS EARTH!!! And yet, both the cops and the so-called state like to say driver's are REQUIRED to be "licensed" and "insured" for the "safety of the public and all other drivers".

Almost all fatalities (around 35,000 per year in the United States) are caused by "licensed and insured drivers".

Now, think about this one for awhile.........

I think that it’s closer to 5,300 lbs., which still isn’t puny...

You are correct, I don't know where I got the 7,000 pound figure from. Still, when it comes to accidents, heavier is better. A friend of mine likes the idea of driving around in a Ford F650 pickup conversion:


Home | F650 Supertruck

I imagine that any red light runner that ran into one of these might be the one ending up with all the injuries.

Sorry to hear of your injuries. Hope recovery is not too prolonged and complete.


At 78 I wonder why I have not been checked by the system for remaining ability to drive? Not a question or anything when I went for my drivers license renewal this year. We get them for five years.


There is a law in this province though that makes sense to some degree. Your doctor is responsible to report a patient that in his opinion is no longer competent to drive. Perhaps this is working well enough.


All I know is I would not want to hurt anyone. As a result of me slipping too much and not recognizing it. I actually hope my awareness of decline is good enough in itself for me to know to turn in my license when the time comes.


I also know that the loss of it makes life awkward. Yet if self doubts arise at some point and they should. I will stop driving. Some old folk persist till they basically do not even know where they are or have lost almost all concentration.

For me the worry is not being able to pass the vision test ~ In need my glasses for one eye, I discovered this my last renewal .

I no longer like to drive in the dark, it used to be a favorite of mine but no more because I worry I might not see something / someone .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

That is patently false and no insurance company would ever make an absolute statement like that.

Volvo 940 vs Renault Modus
https://youtu.be/qBDyeWofcLY

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Please. You know exactly where you got the 7,000 figure. Its the same place you got the insurance letter story from.... thin air.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Mandatory vehicle insurance by all is possible. The system here in Nova Scotia really works to keep uninsured drivers off the road. If one is still out there. Your claim from them is paid for by the provincial program and they then chase them seriously for the money. Plus no license to drive until it is paid.

To provide even more motivation. If you cannot prove insurance your vehicle is towed, Plus you get a very heavy fine that is multiples of what the yearly insurance premium would be. Also when you replate you must prove insurance exists. The smallest liability component must be a million dollars as well.

I have been accident free basically for more than sixty years. I just was not at the wrong place at the right time I suppose. My simple mind also makes me pay attention when I am driving. Total driven miles over the years are well beyond average. I have also never picked up a ticket to pay for a moving violation. Other than two warnings for speeding. Although parking tickets to no end when living in Toronto.

We have dealt with the wives claims and even though there was no insurance issues. That alone was enough of a hassle sometimes. For whatever reason they did not boost the premium basically for them. Only thing that ever really surprised me with insurance companies.

Well, day 20 post accident and Hagerty finally got the appraisal from their appraiser...$14,751 to repair the car. The appraiser was unable to life the hood to check for further damages...of which I'm sure there is. The engine dumped coolant and engine oil at the accident scene, so I know there was further damages of some sort.

They totaled it. I overnighted the signed title to them today, and should get the check next week some time for $20,000, which was the agreed upon value. Hagerty is following through for me.

They offered me the ability to get the car back, at $3800...and I turned them down. My garage is too small to accomodate a car that is being dismantaled, and I don't feel like spending a year or so trying to track down buyers of parts. I still have the hardtop, and will be listing it in a few social media car groups I belong to. If anyone is interested in another hardtop for a 107, there's one in the Dayton Ohio area for $400...OBO

I plan on using the money to pick up a 1979 Ford Thunderbird. I had one in the late 80's and early 90's...fron high school until about 1996, when I sold it to appease my ex-wife. Mine had a 351 Windsor in it and had more than enough power on the highway. I loved that car more than anything back then. I found one locally with 60k miles in great shape for $3000, and will go and look at it this weekend, if all goes well. It's white on white on white. I'm going to use the rest to pay off a couple debts, and get some parts upgraded on my 97 F150...mainly tires, shocks, and stereo equipment. The rest will be used to help my kids out

Im going to miss the 107...it was quite a fun car to own. The memories my wife and I have in it, as well as my kids, will last a lifetime. The day I drove it to marry my wife, the day I let both of my daughters drive it, and the time I drove through Nebraska doing 135 at 2 in the morning on I80 on the way to my father in law's funeral...the man I bought it from...those are all memories that I will cherish for years.

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I hope the financial aspect doesn't hurt you .

Mandatory insurance forces lower rates, why the insurance companies hate it so much and put out so much false information about it .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

It shouldn't affect my other policies by other carriers.

I'm still in a heck of a lot of pain. Left leg skin has no feeling when touched, but feels like the a burning wound...its still swollen and heavily bruised.

Two ribs were dislocated at the sternum...something we found out later. I also have an issue with a vertebrae between my shoulders that the chiro cant seem to correct. I need to see a specialist about it.

My atty said that this could take 12-18 months before a settlement is agreed to for pain and suffering. I have no idea how to place a dollar figure on it, so that's why I hired him.

Best wishes Jon. Hope you feel the settlement for the car was fair.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Sorry to hear of your accident.
Fortunately, the suffering does not seem to be permanent.
I think you should sue the old man, being that he got three citations.
The value of your car as appraised does not include sentimental value.


I am restoring a 1983 R107. I would be interested in the top and the even the seats and cards if available.


You can let me know privately at your leisure.


I am in southeast Michigan, will come down in my 1 ton box truck, slip cash in your hand and trundle back to the Mitten State.
Let me know by PM what you would like to do.
Thanks, and feel better!

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Oh, crap .

The pain issues can get really nasty as time goes by ~ I now have a fused neck with eight screws and a titanium plate plus metal plate in my left arm .

My neck issue got much worse a few years after the collision case was closed so don't let them rush you to sign off .

A good Chiropractor is a gift, I've only encountered a few in six decades .

The lack of feeling indicated nerve damage so you'd be wise to get MRI scans and etc. where ever your leg nerves go through a joint ~ that's where the solution often lies .

My first 'fatal' traffic collision was in 2007 and I'm still in pain 24/7 and now need to sleep in a chair ~ whatever the Doctor says, DO IT ~ after my daughter in laws' horrible collision (she was in the bed of a parked pickup when hit at high rate of speed by a guy who fell asleep, she was thrown out and landed on her head, repeated neck surgeries, infections, septic issues, she'll never ride a Motocyle again and also suffers bad pain) ~ you really have to do all the niggly little things the Dr. wants you to to.

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better