Witnessed accident today

[friarfan98]

I witnessed an accident driving down the interstate today. It involved a newer model Civic and maybe a newer or previous generation Lexus IS. Apparently they were racing and the Civic tapped the rear quarter panel of the Lexus. Both ran into the grass median on the right shoulder. The Lexus flipped two or three times and landed on it wheels. The Civic did a 360 in the grass.There was one person in the Civic and two people in the Lexus. The driver of the Civic got out of his car and appeared fine. The driver of the Lexus got out and laid down on the grass. His passenger seemed to be OK too. The steering wheel airbag deployed in the Civic and it appeared that all airbags deployed in the Lexus. I was running up to the Lexus expecting to see someone ejected or dead. They would’ve been if they had not been wearing their seatbelts.

I am not a crazy driver, nor can I be in a 2025 OB Bronco. We do not have to full soft top, but we did install a Bestop Skyrider this past summer. I want to be careful when I ask this and respectful. Have you or anyone else you know, been in an accident like this in their Bronco? I know there are many factors when an accident occurs and vehicles flip over. I know they can flip over when they are off the road but at interstate speeds it’s another story

We want to give our daughter the Bronco when she is old enough to drive. She is overly cautious and sometimes scared of her own shadow. I highly doubt she will ever drive above 60 to 65 mph on the interstate.

I’m having second thought about giving it to her now.

BTW: Please dont make any smart@$$ comments, saying “If you don’t feel safe, then sell it.” Or “No vehicle can be safe when it flips over multiple times.“ I’ve lost several friends when they were driving too fast and flipped their cars. I don’t want to sell the vehicle. My main question is what is the survivability rate?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

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[PWillette]

The Bronco, no matter trim, is a box on frame with a decent high center of gravity...it's going to be more susceptible to flip/roll than a low center of gravity car/SUV. The roll cage is very strong but no soft top, MIC top or painted top is going to provide much, if any, protection in a roll over.

 

[TPadden72]

BTW: Please dont make any smart@$$ comments, saying “If you don’t feel safe, then sell it.” Or “No vehicle can be safe when it flips over multiple times.“ I’ve lost several friends when they were driving too fast and flipped their cars. I don’t want to sell the vehicle. My main question is what is the survivability rate?

I really don't know what you are posting for other than: "no comment". Anyone that can comment has most likely 100% survived driving a Bronco.

Tom

 

[DALOLA]

You're asking for opinions on something that has a gazillion variables....

The fact is, if you are concerned with on-road stability, there are better choices than a Bronco.

 

[michelle227]

Newer vehicles tend to have good cabin protection. I've posted some pics from my Labor Day roll at highway speed in my F-Type.

Although the panoramic moonroof was caved in and no panels would have been salvageable, I basically walked away. When I went to the storage lot, the interior cabin, aside from dust and loose glass, looked ready to push the button and drive away.

I had 11 fractured ribs and broke my shoulder in two places. I still don't know if that was from side curtain airbag deployment or if I was tossed just enough to land against the wing of the seat but either way, I don't believe I survive it in other vehicles I own.

 

[TPadden72]

BTW: Please dont make any smart@$$ comments, saying “If you don’t feel safe, then sell it.” Or “No vehicle can be safe when it flips over multiple times.“

So far nothing but smart@$$ comments (including mine).

Tom

 

[crzyhawk]

I suppose it kind of depends on your perspective of what’s ideal In a bad situation. A bronco’s more likely to roll than a car with a low center of gravity. As an off-roader that’s intended to go into off camber situations where rollovers are possible, the Bronco’s designed to keep someone alive should a rollover happen.

My personal opinion is that the bronco’s going to be safer than most cars for your daughter. Yes it might be tippier, but she’s probably walking away from it. It’s got solid steel frame under it. It’s bigger and heavier. It’s going to tank hits better than, say a Camry. The bronco is built to take damage, and cars are not. To me, that counts for something.

 

[GoHawks63]

The roll bar is what will help protect in a roll-over. As has been said, the soft and MIC top won't do anything.

Again, as others have said, there is never a guaranty as there are many factors that go into surviving a roll-over, but I would bet that I have a better chance than in my Mustang convertible.

 

[Lcubed]

I witnessed an accident driving down the interstate today. It involved a newer model Civic and maybe a newer or previous generation Lexus IS. Apparently they were racing and the Civic tapped the rear quarter panel of the Lexus. Both ran into the grass median on the right shoulder. The Lexus flipped two or three times and landed on it wheels. The Civic did a 360 in the grass.There was one person in the Civic and two people in the Lexus. The driver of the Civic got out of his car and appeared fine. The driver of the Lexus got out and laid down on the grass. His passenger seemed to be OK too. The steering wheel airbag deployed in the Civic and it appeared that all airbags deployed in the Lexus. I was running up to the Lexus expecting to see someone ejected or dead. They would’ve been if they had not been wearing their seatbelts.



Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

this was a pretty good description of a badly executed PIT maneuver!

 

[friarfan98]

this was a pretty good description of a badly executed PIT maneuver!

I agree!

 

[HighVelocity]

What you witnessed was reckless driving, not an accident.

Unfortunately one of the risks anyone accepts by sharing the road with their fellow man is that fellow man may have an IQ smaller than their shoe size and can kill you at any moment.

The onus is on you to take precautions and mitigate that risk.

 

[indio22]

I witnessed an accident driving down the interstate today. It involved a newer model Civic and maybe a newer or previous generation Lexus IS. Apparently they were racing and the Civic tapped the rear quarter panel of the Lexus. Both ran into the grass median on the right shoulder. The Lexus flipped two or three times and landed on it wheels. The Civic did a 360 in the grass.There was one person in the Civic and two people in the Lexus. The driver of the Civic got out of his car and appeared fine. The driver of the Lexus got out and laid down on the grass. His passenger seemed to be OK too. The steering wheel airbag deployed in the Civic and it appeared that all airbags deployed in the Lexus. I was running up to the Lexus expecting to see someone ejected or dead. They would’ve been if they had not been wearing their seatbelts.

I am not a crazy driver, nor can I be in a 2025 OB Bronco. We do not have to full soft top, but we did install a Bestop Skyrider this past summer. I want to be careful when I ask this and respectful. Have you or anyone else you know, been in an accident like this in their Bronco? I know there are many factors when an accident occurs and vehicles flip over. I know they can flip over when they are off the road but at interstate speeds it’s another story

We want to give our daughter the Bronco when she is old enough to drive. She is overly cautious and sometimes scared of her own shadow. I highly doubt she will ever drive above 60 to 65 mph on the interstate.

I’m having second thought about giving it to her now.

BTW: Please dont make any smart@$$ comments, saying “If you don’t feel safe, then sell it.” Or “No vehicle can be safe when it flips over multiple times.“ I’ve lost several friends when they were driving too fast and flipped their cars. I don’t want to sell the vehicle. My main question is what is the survivability rate?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

The Bronco will have the disadvantage of being higher up and more likely to roll in an accident like you described, compared to spinning out in a road hugging vehicle. On the other hand, being higher up the Bronco can do better in certain collisions, such as when a car rear ended my Bronco and partly dove under the rear bumper, causing less direct impact and damage.

Reality is temperament can play a big role in feeling comfortable and thus dealing with driving situations. Meaning if your daughter is a timid driver or whatever, maybe a better handling standard road car would be a better match?

 

[Nickhick]

Anyone can be killed in any vehicle at any time.

 

[Desmolicious]

The higher the COG of any vehicle, the greater the chance of a roll over. To lessen the chance of that, drive defensively. The two cars in your accident were driving recklessly.
The IHS has a rollover test where the cars they test get t-boned by a test sled device at about 40 mph. No matter how hard they tried they could not get the Tesla Y to roll over, as basically the majority it mass is at ankle height! So if that’s your concern, there is your vehicle.
I feel very safe driving my Bronco - much more so than my Miata (!) or previous Wrangler. It is just such a solid vehicle. And I always drive it under the consideration that it is not designed to corner hard, brake shortly, change direction rapidly.
Have your daughter take defensive driving classes after she gets her license and before she gets the Bronco.

 

[Zybore]

Sounds like your daughter will not be doing anything crazy but since the Lexus went tumbling through the median the Bronco's height is irrelevant. It has a roll cage, good, an actual frame, good, lots of airbags, good. And hears a twist. When I hit a deer a few weeks back, since it was high, the deer just bounced back. In many "stable" cars it would have roll over the hood and into the drivers compartment, bad. Bronco for daughter, good.

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