Photo:via cbt.com.my from Miros
There was, putting it bluntly, a really
stupid piece of news made by the Malaysia Institute of Road Safety
Research (MIROS) stating that cars that are more than 12 years old are
not safe to be on the road. MIROS added that there is a
higher risk of death in an accident because such cars could be faulty
without the driver being aware of it and that most cars are designed to
have a lifespan of five to twelve years. MIROS also stated that cars
made more than twelve years ago were also lacking in safety features.
This conclusion was derived after a car collision test at the Asean New
Car Assessment Programme (ASEAN NCAP) . The test car was done on a...23
year old Proton Saga.
I have to say that this test and press statement made by MIROS officials
are right down stupid. You state that cars older than 12 years of age
are unsafe and then test a 23 year old Proton Saga? Hello MIROS, you're
testing a car that was designed in the early 1980s. Please note that the
Proton Saga, nee Mitsubishi Lancer first came out in 1983 which meant
that this was a car designed as early as 1980. This car was definitely
designed prior to airbags as standard requirement.
Anyway, the actual reason why this test is really stupid is the fact
that the Proton Saga was sold till 2008 with only a bumper change most
of the time. If the Saga from twenty-three years ago suffered from
massive damage after hitting something at 64km/h what makes you people
at MIROS think that a last batch Proton Saga from 2008 can manage to
keep its occupants safe? This test has no bearing on the reason that
older cars aren't safe because the test model shows that newer cars
aren't safe too.
