[Jcpointblanktx]

I regularly drive from OKC to Houston.

Every trip feels like a scene from Road Warrior.
I call it "the odyssey" complete with tragedies, monsters, misadventures, (ship)wrecks, etc.

Every time I arrive I'm exhausted and frazzled and more gray.
I feel lucky and surprised to arrive unscathed (almost) every time. And I hate it every time.
The interstates are horrific now. "Professional" truck drivers aren't professionals anymore. They are on their phones as much as teenage girl and seem to delight in impeding the flow of traffic and camping out in the left lane. I used to respect the profession but not anymore.

I live just off your route to Houston and lived in Houston for over 40 years. I’m now about 30 miles east of Huntsville and much prefer our traffic patterns. I have yet to have my Spider running well enough to drive on our local roads but if I do it will be well planned and avoid potential issues. Really sad and feel for the folks in the accident.

 

[JArnold]

From the Lake County (IL) sheriff's FB site:

"Fatal Deer Park Crash
Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating a fatal Sunday morning crash that occurred in Deer Park.
On May 18, 2025, at approximately 10:20 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Lake Cook Road and Ferndale Road, Deer Park, for a traffic crash with injuries. Sheriff’s deputies arrived to find two vehicles with major
damage and two people critically injured.
A preliminary investigation shows a 2025 Jeep Wrangler, driven by 75-year-old man of Deer Park, was eastbound on Lake Cook Road and was attempting to turn left onto northbound Ferndale Road. A 1986 Alfa Romeo, driven by a
71-year-old man of Mount Prospect, was traveling westbound on Lake Cook Road.
The driver of the Jeep indicated they did not see the Alfa Romeo and began their left turn in front of the Alfa Romeo. The Jeep and Alfa Romeo collided.
The driver of the Alfa Romeo was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries
shortly after arriving at the hospital. A passenger in the Alfa Romeo, a 63-year-old woman of Mount Prospect, was
also transported to an area hospital, where she remains in serious, but stable condition. The driver of the Jeep sustained minor injuries and is cooperating with the investigation.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy on the driver of the Alfa Romeo.
The crash remains under investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Technical Crash Investigations Team."

That it's a spider is not specifically mentioned, but it's likely to be the model in question.

I read from the last post up to this # 1. Very sorry to hear of this and sad for all the family members with their loss of a loved one and injury of another. Definitely makes me want to keep all guards on as I recently got an 87 Spyder Graduate. A few bikers out there giving good tips and this crash happened on the sixth anniversary of my son getting left turn slammed to death on his MC. I am a rider too and having had a driver cross the center line and crash into me creating a month long stay in the hospital and life long ailments, makes me more aware it is not just a biker's nightmare but small sports car drivers too. I just thought too as some mentioned taller vehicles hiding our sight or being seen. Makes me think of mounting a beacon on a pole kind of like the flags on side by sides at the RV parks. I know that would look stupid and probably illegal but hey-isn't safety and being seen more important?... okay then how about some low profile flashing bumper lights or wig wag headlights-My Subaru and motorcycles have the quick flash 3 then solid brake lamps too. I might look into all of these for the Spyder and drive like the others are all out to hit me.
PS I have only driven it once and that was from the back of the neighborhood while being towed with a chain behind my other son's truck. It went to the shop to get some things fixed. Can hardly wait to do the maiden cruise!

 

[alfaareks]

RIP Mr. Clauss.

Obviously the Jeep's bumper, directly attached to frame rails, was high enough to slice through soft parts of the Alfa above its floor pan. I'm in my 60s and recall various DOT bumper regulations over the decades regarding not just impact resistance but also bumper height. I am not sure what if any of those may be on the books today, but clearly if any are they are not enforced. Occupants of regular cars and especially sports cars, even modern ones, are no match for jeeps and trucks especially lifted ones which are everywhere now. Similarly, headlight and taillight bulb types and brightness used to have a DOT standard, whereas today anything goes it seems including hi-bright blinding LEDs. Highway deaths are way down from where they used to be, and I am not for over-regulation, but maybe some of these matters should be looked into for improvements. Recall how truck underride guards were mandated after the Jayne Mansfield crash, for example.

 

[AlbertR]

First of all, all my condolescences to the family.
Unfortunately, our classic cars have not been designed to withstand any small overlap frontal impact.

Nevertheless, I believe that it is possible to suignificantly enhance the safety of our cars.

For small airplanes, there exists a belt-airbag system that can be retrofitted and that enhances survival, see Airbag Restraint Systems - AmSafe . The situation is the same as in classic cars. Pilots of small airplanes crash at relatively low speed but they die as they hit the instruments and steering colum without any protection. An air cushion between the thorax of the pilot or driver that inflates from the seatbelt reduces injury by blunt force. I have been considering buying the seatbelt airbag of Amsafe in order to check if it could be adapted to my classic cars.

Another solution could be an airbag-vest like the ones used by bikers but modified in order to protect chest and abdomen as well as the neck. This also should be feasable and if there would be others interested in developing such an airbag vest, please let me know.

In addition, there exist collapsible steering columns to be retrofitted in race cars, see: Race Car Steering Columns | Adjustable Drive Shaft that could be retrofitted into a classic car.

 

[Sergio105]

Unsightly, impractical for touring use, but a sturdy roll bar is great protection.

 

[rags747]

I'm with @ghnl . If I was taking a turn, you flashed lights at me, I would pull out in front of you as you have signaled to me that you see me and are letting me go ahead of you.

Exactly, flashing lights at someone is signaling to them to go or you are letting them in. The flashing of lights to warn others of your presence is way out there behavior.

 

[rags747]

Well, we all have our reasons and our techniques of driving. Of course I flash my headlights to invite somebody to go ahead at a four-way stop, or just motion them to go ahead. Or when I pull out to pass on a two-lane. But we're talking about something different here, we're talking about hazardous traffic conflicts like the one that resulted in this fatality. Like I said, I believe it's better to try something than to do nothing, as I approach the intersection. Lifting my foot off the gas pedal and hovering over the brake pedal, as well.

You flash your lights when passing another vehicle?! Where did you learn these driving skills?

 

[alfaloco]

You flash your lights when passing another vehicle?! Where did you learn these driving skills?

Wait a minute...I resent the tone of your posts here about the safe driving techniques that have worked well for me, and many others, for many years. You're getting personal with this discussion-- stop it. I did not get my license out of a Cracker Jack box, as you imply, and I've been driving for a good 62 years. I don't have to defend my record to you, or anyone else here.
Of course lights are flashed before you pass-- it was and is common practice in Europe and even happens every June at Le Mans. Just because you never practiced it, doesn't mean the rest of the driving populace shouldn't do it. Flashing lights notifies the driver ahead that you intend to overtake them. Simple.

Some posters here talk as though flashing the headlights has only one purpose, in one situation-- at a STOP sign where you wish to signal the other driver to proceed before you. Which is fine, and a polite and common sense gesture. I do that routinely.

But headlight flashing CAN have more than one use, you know?? Imagine that.

As we approach a signalized (or non-signalized) intersection, without a protected left turn light, and with vehicles waiting to turn left in front of us, I still say flashing a WARNING to those drivers is better than doing nothing. Doing nothing except praying, puckering up, gripping the steering wheel, and hoping they stay put. Hope is not a strategy. I have always believed that being proactive beats waiting for the probable outcome. That's me, and I have utilized that approach all through my career and personal life. Flashing the lights in this situation does NOT mean permission to turn and cause an accident-- like the horn it is a warning, and has been taken as a warning far more times than I can recall in my driving years. Flashing the lights increases your visibility instantaneously. Flashing the lights has a startle effect that gets attention, especially when done rapidly. Flashing the lights can make the driver pause, giving everyone a chance to keep on living. Usually... but not always, which is why we still must prepare for that driver to turn regardless of the danger.

So I've heard enough... why anyone thinks they can argue with my own personal positive experience over many years, and convince me to join the "do nothing but pucker" crowd... I don't know. But just don't make it personal. End of discussion of this for me.

 

[81gtv6]

...convince me to join the "do nothing but pucker" crowd... I don't know. But just don't make it personal. End of discussion of this for me.

You can slow down, or honk, or keep your high beams on constantly, or drive with your lights on, or do nothing, but just STOP flashing your lights for all of us. We are getting on your case cuz you are doing something dangerous. Please stop and stay alive.

 

[rags747]

You can slow down, or honk, or keep your high beams on constantly, or drive with your lights on, or do nothing, but just STOP flashing your lights for all of us. We are getting on your case cuz you are doing something dangerous. Please stop and stay alive.

100%! Not sure what he means by Do nothing but Pucker, have personally never had that experience.

 

[lehigh74]

Ironically/sadly, the unfortunate couple and their Spider are featured in the July issue of Alfa Owner magazine Where It All Began For Us.

 

[nitrous]

I'm with @ghnl . If I was taking a turn, you flashed lights at me, I would pull out in front of you as you have signaled to me that you see me and are letting me go ahead of you.

I think the idea behind flashing lights is to make sure the person is aware you’re there. This jeep driver said he hadn’t seen the car coming. Had his lights been on, it might have been a completely different outcome. Always drive to stay alive-always have your lights on.