Back in the late 1960's when I was a Copper in London, I saw many horrendous crashes caused by lack of maintenance. As a lot of Forum readers of my generation would attest, when we started driving we had to get to know how our cars worked and how to service them because we couldn't afford to pay for general servicing. I'm afraid this is not true anymore. When I see 'Boy racers' tearing around at speed and throwing their vehicles around, jerking the steering and slamming on the brakes, coupled with tyres screeching etc. I reminds me of some of the crashes from my Police career times.
One classic incident involved the young driver of an Austin Westminster, a highly regarded car of the time and quite a heavily built one, unlike the cheap imports we get today. This guy decided to turn left at speed before going down the wrong road. He yanked the steering hard over and the whole front wheel assembly, brakes, steering arms and shock absorbers came off as one piece, being held to the chassis on a 1/4 inch thick square plate and 4 quite small studs. The front of the car dug into the road surface flipping the car upside down, where he promptly scalped himself on the edge of the sun roof. Remember..no seat belts or air bags at that time. (He was OK after about 6 months!!)
If some drivers knew just how flimsy some parts of a car really are they would take more care.
Getting back to Wheeler Dealers, I used to enjoy the program as that is the type of thing I did with my own cars, but I do get a little heated when the car is sold off for little more than the overall bill. Do away with the buying and selling and all that rubbish and let Ed...and his team...just explain to the younger generation how to repair and maintain their cars..... and keep death off the road.
By the way...anybody got a spare Mercedes Diagnostic computer and cards for a 220 E estate going cheap!!!
Ron.