Is the Z accident prone?

[bpeckham]

Since mid-March, I've been in two situations that make me think my Z might be accident prone due to its size.

First, a truck bumps into me while it was backing out of a parking space in the parking lot at work.

My detailer was able to clean this up, and it looks like new. However, the driver of the truck said he didn't see me, and I can believe this. The top of my roof is below the tailgate of the truck. This doesn't excuse the driver. You have to be aware. As a Z driver, I acknowledge the rear visibility out the Z is crap, so I'm hyper aware.

Next, I'm driving home on the 805 in the right lane. I'm going to take the "local bypass". A bunch of slow moving traffic exits the freeway opening up the right lane, so what do I do? I accelerate, of course! This brings me alongside a 1980s or 1990s lifted Ford Bronco that's been lumbering down the freeway.

As I'm overtaking this slow mover on the right, it starts to drift into my lane. I'm a little annoyed by this because this is a section of the 805 where the lanes shift a bit and lazy drivers struggle to stay in their lane. Then I notice that the Bronco is continuing to drift towards me. At that point I switch into accident avoidance mode.

I'm m already going a bit faster than the Bronco, so I punch it and steer to the right onto the shoulder. The Z, of course, responded appropriately and squirted me out of that tough spot. With the Bronco receding in my rear view, I notice that its right turn signal on.

It was changing lanes, and probably never saw me. Again, the roof of my car is lower than the bottom of the passenger side window. Again, not an excuse. The drivers, in each case, needed to be more aware.

But this got me thinking, in a world of large vehicles, is the Z destined to get crushed at some point? Is it accident prone?

 

[Nis Mo Z]

This is a byproduct of being a low slung sports car with a compact size. The height of the car is 51.8/9 inches and the average car is several inches taller than that. I had the same issue in my MK5 Supra, 86 and ND Miata. But I prefer low slung style sports cars so one must be naturally more defensive of a driver than you normally would.

 

[Hernandooo]

This is why I back up in to the parking spot all the time. It gives me more situational awareness when exiting.

As for the second incident. I would had sped up and passed to make the other driver realize there was a car there

The world is full of idiots, especially ones that shouldn't hold a driver's license. The only thing we could do is have maximum situational awareness, read the road, and avoid poor drivers

The state of Victoria is full of them, just look up dashcam Australia on youtube and you'll see my point

 

[Zplz]

The world is full of idiots, especially ones that shouldn't hold a driver's license. The only thing we could do is have maximum situational awareness, read the road, and avoid poor drivers

The state of Victoria is full of them, just look up dashcam Australia on youtube and you'll see my point

...The world is full of idiots, especially ones that shouldn't hold a driver's license. The only thing we could do is have maximum situational awareness, read the road, and avoid poor drivers...

This. I'm convinced too many DMV's just hand out licenses like free candy these days. Plus, so called "drivers education" must be an absolute joke. That's assuming the nitwit behind the wheel even bothered to get a license.

"...Texas has one of the highest rates of fatal crashes involving unlicensed drivers, with about 24.16% of drivers in fatal crashes found not to have a valid license. This data is based on a study analyzing NHTSA records from 2017 to 2021..."

Then, add on top of all this that traffic law enforcement in Houston is next to non-existent. I'd feel safer driving in the Daytona 500 than on a local freeway. I just assume everyone on the road is either a moron or a lunatic, maybe both.

 

[RedAustinIX]

I agree with all of the comments here. Even though I don't own a motorcycle, I do have the motorcycle endorsement and took the training. "Defensive driving" was drilled into our heads, and I think the same thing applies to the Z (or similar cars).

 

[southboundbear]

After tens of thousands of miles on a motorcycle, all the above is just instinctive for me.

 

[Zplz]

I agree with all of the comments here. Even though I don't own a motorcycle, I do have the motorcycle endorsement and took the training. "Defensive driving" was drilled into our heads, and I think the same thing applies to the Z (or similar cars).

Yes, sir. Defensive driving is an absolute necessity. I love motorcycles but with the level of insanity on the roads around this area, I'd have to have an overwhelming death wish to cruise around on a motorcycle.

 

[ZillaZ]

Yup night and day how others around me drive if I am in my truck or my Z.

 

[u54]

Yeah I think this is mostly "chalk this up to the shape and size of the Z"

 

[Tranzor Z]

After tens of thousands of miles on a motorcycle, all the above is just instinctive for me.

Absolutely +1 on this

 

[takemorepills]

It's not the Z. It's other people. Smartphones, relaxation of traffic enforcement (including no insurance, not fun to deal with being hit by these people) and immigrants from countries with no driving culture. I drive a very big truck, people will change lanes right into me despite my truck being right next to them and as big as a mountain.

My wife drives the Corolla and I used to have a mk7 GTI. They're every bit as small as the Z, (maybe the bright color helps) the biggest difference is I feel safer in my truck. I've been hit a few times in my truck and usually no damage. The Corolla has needed two visits to the body shop since we got it from relatively minor stuff that would've been no big deal in the truck.

 

[Tranzor Z]

It's not the Z. It's other people. Smartphones, relaxation of traffic enforcement (including no insurance, not fun to deal with being hit by these people) and immigrants from countries with no driving culture. I drive a very big truck, people will change lanes right into me despite my truck being right next to them and as big as a mountain.

My wife drives the Corolla and I used to have a mk7 GTI. They're every bit as small as the Z, (maybe the bright color helps) the biggest difference is I feel safer in my truck. I've been hit a few times in my truck and usually no damage. The Corolla has needed two visits to the body shop since we got it from relatively minor stuff that would've been no big deal in the truck.

Nice GTI. I had an MK6. If they were faster I'd probably have one instead of my Z.

 

[takemorepills]

Nice GTI. I had an MK6. If they were faster I'd probably have one instead of my Z.

My GTI was Stage 1, quite impressively quick, but traction was impossible to get below 30 mph, even with PS4S tires.
The Z I test drove had similar traction issues, but at the other end

 

[ZillaZ]

It's not the Z. It's other people. Smartphones, relaxation of traffic enforcement (including no insurance, not fun to deal with being hit by these people) and immigrants from countries with no driving culture....

Not sure how people who cannot read road-signs in a language they do not speak can get a license.

 

[trackratZ]

It's not just the Z, any low profile car, people just don't look enough, entitled, and social media distractions. I'm wetting my boxers when driving the Miata on fwys, it's half the height of truck tires, right next to me. Basically stay off your phones while moving people, 'situational awareness' is totally key. I definitely respect it more when riding my motorcycles, esp when forced to split lanes, even slowly in heavy traffic. Look at others' rearview mirrors and front tires, read the clues. And people don't signal nowadays! Be safe out there, @bpeckham get some underglow and aaoogahh horn on that Z!