Thread: Defender Safety

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

Its a very interesting thing about aussie blokes.....as soon as you question their ability to drive well you get worse replies than questioning the integrity of their missus. Check the road toll and accident statistics, its not the vehicle as in the case of the Defender's safety but that of the person driving the vehicle and in this country its majority males. a better poll should be "do you think your kids would be safer in your defender if you did an advanced driver training course'? A defender is 100% safe in any situation with a skilled trained driver. Take away any training and skills add the aussie male ego and its a potential bomb.

and all that is about as relevant to the original poll as the bat **** i found on my front driveway this morning.

give it a break ...

I have 4 children , and recently travelled to Cape york and back, I do think they are a safe vehicle for children, the fact there is no airbags in reality probably helps as far as children are concerned.


Most are bags are designed with adults in mind not children, hense no child in QLD can sit in the front of a vehicle unless all other seats are taken as most car at least have air bags in the front.

Well thats my 2c anyhow.

Advanced driving is something I think should be manditory for all new drivers and be part of passing your driving test, but if you have a tyre give out at 80ks as suggested earlier then all the training in the world wont save you, it will be up to the saftey of your vehicle.

Originally Posted by NOZ

Most are bags are designed with adults in mind not children, hense no child in QLD can sit in the front of a vehicle unless all other seats are taken as most car at least have air bags in the front.

As a matter of interest, what is the maximum mandatory age for children to use booster seats? The use of those for small children ought to negate any potential harm from air bags, surely.

The short answer is 7 years old.
Th longer answer, and also deails on when they can sit in the front seat, is here:
Child restraint laws (Department of Transport and Main Roads)
for queensland anyway.

I think that considering we have two cases,with photo's of defenders that have taken some serious abuse that had the occupents walk away speaks volumes for the safety of them. Pat

Originally Posted by NOZ

Advanced driving is something I think should be manditory for all new drivers and be part of passing your driving test

dam sure i saw something not long ago that led me to believe the major motoring organizations beg to differ as it instills too much confidence.

will go looking when i get time...

Originally Posted by incisor

dam sure i saw something not long ago that led me to believe the major motoring organizations beg to differ as it instills too much confidence.

will go looking when i get time...

Well thats a load of rubbish "over confidence"?


These courses teach so much in regards to saftey, able to change your own tyre, many things. Not just driving.

The government should make it law

Originally Posted by incisor

dam sure i saw something not long ago that led me to believe the major motoring organizations beg to differ as it instills too much confidence.

I too have heard this some years back. Advanced driver training can lead to overconfidence. I'm not too sure if it was researched properly, or by someone pushing their own agenda. Could be from someone like the prestigious monash university who seem to be able to prove what ever it is you are paying them to prove.