[Drivingforfun]

I was just wondering, and thought it could be fun to discuss

I was reading of a Dacia Spring that makes EVs affordable, indeed it’s £16k I believe and in my view is a good move, but the 0-60 time is 19 seconds. I know an argument is “don’t use it on a dual carriageway” but as long as it’s legal, people will

The two common defences I’ve heard are

1) lorry drivers have to deal with very gradual acceleration and manage fine

2) in the old days horsepower was measured in tens, not hundreds

My counter for “1” is that lorry drivers have extra training, and as for “2” a lack of acceleration would, these days, surprise other drivers - in the 60s it would be routine to let someone out of a slip road and have them take 20 seconds to get up to speed but today it may catch some drivers out

I’m not having a go at low-powered cars, I honestly think there’s a place for most stuff on the market, just thought it was an interesting thing to bring up

I’ll be interested to read others views

[Mark07]

I do get where you are coming from.

IMHO, low horsepower cars might be annoying, but i wouldn't say they're unsafe. I can react to a slower car and my (re)actions are my responsibility.

Given a binary choice, i'd rather someone drove conservatively than recklessly.

[TC1474]

Power or more to the point a lack of power does not equate to more crashes or making a vehicle less safe because of a lack of power, the issues usually arise as a result of poor driving standards.

So if a lack of horsepower was an issue, cars would not have the facility to go into limp mode, 49cc Mopeds which are limited to 30MPH would be outlawed, and the minimum speed on a Motorway would be raised from the current minimum of 25MPH.

I would suggest that too much power is the biggest issue because whilst technology and engine performance have moved on big time, driver skills are still dormant and so many think that once they have passed their driving test (which is unfit for purpose) there is nothing more to learn.

So these drivers are then allowed to jump behind the wheel of 500+ BHP monsters with no training, and if you look at the stats it these vehicles that tend to be involved in most of the crashes which often involves taking out a lower horsepower vehicle. Having seen and dealt with the aftermath of these crashes it really is frightening.

As for HGV drivers.... That is one profession which has become less and less professional over the years and standards have dropped beyond all recognition, but that is another topic altogether

So I don't have an issue with lower powered vehicles, all vehicles need to be respected because all can kill in the wrong hands.

[Rolebama]

FWIW: I have seen, over the years, too many drivers who pootle up slip-roads and stop because they seem incapable of driving over 35mph, and joining motorway traffic. I have also seen relatively under-powered cars which are quite capable of joining motorway traffic.
I know who I prefer to have on the road with me.

[olduser]

From the low power drivers point of view, if that is what he/she drives they adapt to that, and it isn't a problem.

For other road users it is a problem because it wakes them up, it is something different, forcing them to have to think, and that won't do!

Something along the lines - I usually follow the bumper in front but this one keeps getting closer, what can I do, brakes make me stop, my right foot is in it's normal position but I am still catching up, I've flashed my headlights and blown my horn, I have run out of options!

When it finally dawns, it now changes to frustration, 'get out of MY way, I'm going to be late to the next traffic jam!'