Monday, February 9, 2015

Don’t Take A Brake

Amusing snark can often make the point better than a serious discourse.

Guys, I wanted to let you know about a personal decision I recently made. I don’t really feel like discussing it, but I want to put my position out there. Please be respectful. This is a really long post, but please read the whole thing.

I’m taking the brakes off my car. This isn’t a rash decision, so please listen up.

A few weeks ago I saw a car accident – two people went through an intersection at the same time. Both slammed on their brakes at the same time and collided. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.

But then it occurred to me – if they had just gone through the intersection, they wouldn’t have collided. The brakes CAUSED the accident!

So, I decided to do my own research and what I found was *staggering*: Hundreds of people every year are seriously injured by unnecessary braking. One time, I was driving in the snow and I just lightly tapped my brakes and it caused my car to COMPLETELY LOSE CONTROL. My brakes could have very easily gotten me killed. Even more astoundingly is how often brake pads will warp and distort rotors, causing bumpy rides and squeaky wheels.

And you know what? I also found that decades ago brakes weren’t even used! People would control their vehicle’s speed with downshifting and engine braking. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but back when engine braking was used there were almost no automotive fatalities. There were NEVER brake caused car accidents.

It was worth a shot.

4 barks and woofs on “Don’t Take A Brake

  1. imagine the cost and time savings benefits, both in the manufacturing of the new cars and the annual maintenance on the consumer side.

  2. I remember when Stockholm, Sweden mandated that all automobiles had to have their horns disconnected; statistics showed that auto accidents dropped 65% go figure! However, I am not disconecting my brakes; my heart couldn’t take that first red light I didn’t stop for….

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