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Why so many cars turning turtle?

Highwaycode

By Highwaycode,
in General Car Discussion

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Maxus-MIFA9

Maxus-MIFA9

Supersonic
Why so many cars turning turtle?

 

NEXT time you speed, remember these pictures. Over the past year alone, The Straits Times' online interactive portal, Stomp, received more than 20 MMSes which showed flipped vehicles on local roads.

 

They included cars, vans, lorries and even gas trailers. The accidents occurred on highways and other roads.

 

There were no deaths.

 

The latest incident happened on 28 Dec, when a Mitsubishi Lancer overturned along the Braddell slip road.

 

Ten mechanics my paper spoke to said that on average, each of them deal with more than five cases of cars turning turtle each year.

 

So, why do cars overturn? Vehicle size and its centre of gravity are two factors.

 

But the speed of the car is the primary factor, mechanics say.

 

Said Mr Chua Sek Juay, the owner of Tan Cheng Motor Vehicle Spray Painting in Ang Mo Kio: "All the overturned cars that I've dealt with had drivers who were going too fast."

 

The 50-year-old, who has tended to more than 50 cases of overturned cars in the 30 years as mechanic, said: "When they go too fast and hit the kerb, the balance of weight of the car suddenly shifts and the driver loses control. This can cause the car to turn turtle."

 

Furthermore, certain cars - like sports-utility vehicles (SUVs) - are more prone to flipping over.

 

That's because SUVs have a higher centre of gravity, Mr Chua said.

 

"Motorists must remember they are not driving sports cars which have a lower centre of gravity and hence, are more resistant to turning over," he explained.

 

Khairil Salim, 27, a mechanic from Hussein and Sons Workshop in Paya Lebar, also pointed out that drivers of smaller cars are also at risk of turning turtle if they go too fast.

 

He said: "Because smaller cars are lighter, when they go too fast the wind can force the car to overturn if the driver hits the brakes too suddenly."

 

While mechanics argue that speed is the main factor, sports car drivers say that a car's design plays a part in the tendency for it to flip.

 

Cars turning turtle has been a controversial subject in the US in recent years.

 

Last month, USA Today reported that Ford Motors settled out of court a class action suit, which was brought against earlier models of its Explorer SUV- which were prone to flipping.

 

Over one million drivers of the SUV claimed the car was prone to turning turtle due to its high centre of gravity, coupled with the tread separation of the car's tyres.

 

Tread separation is the result of the plies of a tyre - which is built with different layers - separating from one another.

 

More than 250 people were killed and hundreds more injured in accidents involving the damaged tyres.

 

 

 

Chiong Ahhhhh................ [drivingcar][drivingcar][drivingcar], nowadays, seldom see TPs (bike or WRX) on the road. Depending on radar and when news announce over radio, every drivers before reaching that area will become [cool][cool].

 

After passing the radar....... he....he...he..... chiong ahhh........ [sly][sly]

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Zanter

Zanter

3rd Gear

That is why I dont understand why people will choose an SUV in SG. High centre of gravity + high CC engine + high speed= accident waiting to happen. @ least SUV makes sense in Malaysia if say u need to go thru palm oil plantation and avoid the not infrequent floodings but in Sg makes sense meh? Moreover high fuel consumption? Can any SUV lovers enlighten me?

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Akula

Akula

Turbocharged

Becos They ( we ) buy what we like with the money they ( we ) have/earn? What's not to like if the attributes one looking for is there, eg. high riding height ( can see further and plough through flood waters better ) / easier ingress and dismount /4WD or AWD ( not all though ) / design / looks / Dun want a conventional 3-box sedan shape?

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Woolff

Woolff

Neutral Newbie

Last nite on my way to pungool marina for seafood dinner, saw a MPV overturn about 100m away..TP was there to assist. Saw blue blinking light far far away though..WOW so early catch drink driving already ah...

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Mzrmazda3

Mzrmazda3

6th Gear
(edited)
heard from my friend that the eye witness even provide a description of the pedestrian. for days they waited there but in vain.

probably left the country liao cos he was a FT

 

Haiz.. [shakehead][shakehead][shakehead]

 

Sometimes, Ho Sim Bo Ho Po [:|]

Edited by Mzrmazda3
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Maxus-MIFA9

Maxus-MIFA9

Supersonic

"May be TP oso frighten 2 turn turtle."

 

 

More like they cause a lot of accidents on expressway.... [lipsrsealed][lipsrsealed][lipsrsealed]

 

You see, when motorist travel fast on the highway, suddenly when they see a WRX at the side of the road, some jokers (driver) goes to the extend of heavy braking to slow down their vehicle and doesn't even take into consideration that there are other vehicles behind them.... [hur][hur][hur] .

 

If they wanted to catch you speeding, they had spotted you with their radar gun (more than 500 meters) before you could even spot the WRX on the side of the highway. Don't you thinks with such [hur] drivers around shouldn't there be more accidents.

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Wanderer

Wanderer

Clutched

Actually, they can only gauge ur speed AFTER u pass them. Same as those on the overhead bridge, thus they always aim at the back.

 

The logical way would be to release the accelerator to reduce the speed. But often, drivers like to jam brake at the last min like u mentioned. [shakehead]

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Leepee

Leepee

1st Gear

Cars are designed with higher center of gravity nowadays.

Tyres grip are fantastic nowadays.

So drivers are able to stop and turn corner faster.(AKA drive faster, car speed will usually be higher then cars in the 80's)

 

But at the lost of grip moment, the car will slide and hit kerbs and couple with higher CG, the cars are more likely to turn turtle nowadays.

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