[MBZ] A possibly entertaining story, addition.

[R A Bennell]

I can think of a number of reasons. First off, there were not nearly so many cars or people around in earlier
times. One used to be able to drive the backroads and not meet another vehicle. Doesn't happen much anymore.

I also think that people had to be better drivers and take more care when the cars and the roads were not as good
as they are today.

On Sunday night I left the cottage on Lake of the Woods in Ontario and came back to Winnipeg in Manitoba in my
F150. The first 90 miles or so is 2 lane and then I get about 90 miles of 4 lane. All paved of course. I did it in
about 2 hours and 40 minutes which means that I was speeding a bit but not terribly. I was mostly going with the
flow of traffic but passing quite a few vehicles. Driving at 120 KPH - about 75 MPH is inherently dangerous in
heavy traffic but we do it all the time. Fifty years ago the trip would have taken a lot longer but probably would
have been just as safe if not safer without the airbags and ABS brakes etc just because there would have been
little traffic compared to today. Tires weren't as good and I think for the most part folks were poorer and had to
take better care of themselves and their vehicles. Credit was not as readily available and you had to make the car
last for a while etc.

I am sure that you can come up with more reasons. This was just a quick response off the top of my head.

Randy B

-----Original Message-----
From: Mercedes-bounces at okiebenz.com
[mailto:Mercedes-bounces at okiebenz.com]On Behalf Of Rich Thomas
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 10:55 AM
To: Mercedes Discussion List
Subject: [MBZ] A possibly entertaining story, addition.


Damn, how did the human race ever survive without AC in our cars?
Babies dying everywhere from no AC in cars.  It's a wonder I survived, I
think my parents had a 49 Ford or some such POS that brought me home,
and the leaded-gas pollution that thing belched, drum brakes, no power
steering, NO SEAT BELTS, NO CPSC-approved CAR SEAT, no electric windows,
no auto tranny, no rear-view video camera, no cell phone or ipod
attachments, no drop-down vid screens and DVD player, no "R" stickers,
no pedestrian-friendly bumpers, no warning chimes telling them to buckle
up, no DOT-approved tires, no ABS, no radar-powered adaptive cruise
control, I must be some statistical aberration (in regards to riding
home in the car anyway).  They told me that they organized the back seat
with a sheet of plywood over the foot well so they could put blankets
and such there to make a bed for me to sleep on on long trips (and I
think there is a photo of that somewhere).  HORRORS!!!!

--R

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