Reply #77: Just what I mean [View All]

In your case, what your car lacks in sheer mass it gains in better design, airbags, and better brakes.

I would trade my car for yours. I would NOT trade my 1989 Olds Regency 98 for, say, a 1989 Honda Civic unless there were extenuating circumstances. Like, say, my car was on fire. :-)

I think in the US there are new laws that keep SUV bumpers lower to try to avoid this. However with tens of millions of older SUVs on the road, you still run the risk of being badly injured by a truck with a higher bumper.

It does not change the fact that if you had purchased a late model Five Hundred or Crown Victoria or Impala or Charger or 300C, or even a Liberty or Escape or RAV4, you would be even safer.

You made a choice, based on finances and fuel economy, style and comfort, price and warranty, as well as safety. Welcome to real life! :-)

As to the truck thing... I don't tailgate, but hugging a little closer than normal isn't a bad thing. The secret is to not stare at the back of the truck. If you do that you won't notice as quickly if he starts to slow down. Stare past the truck, around the truck, so your sensitive peripheral vision can detect the truck changing speed instead.

I also have excellent depth perception, so I'm very sensitive to speed differences. I can sense with a vehicle in front of me is only two MPH slower or faster.