Perodua Viva - Tin Can in Motion

Perodua's Viva is a nice car to look at and drive. It's nippy, stylish and economical.

When mated to a 1 litre engine, the Viva can really fly - I once trailed one that was actually going as fast as 145km/h!

But it's one thing to go fast and completely another to stop safely.

Many Vivas we see on the roads don't have anti-brake lock system (ABS). So, if they go fast and run into trouble, they won't be able to stop quickly enough, or worse, when their brakes lock, they won't be able to steer to avoid collision.

And if they crash at high-speeds, well, the picture above shows what can happen.

Like a veritable tin can, the Viva can surprisingly rip apart upon impact, throwing passengers out.

Of course, being a Muslim, I am taught to believe that life and death is in the hands of Allah Most Gracious, Most Merciful. So, no matter how good our preparations to live long, safe, healthy lives are, when the time comes for us to die, we will die.

Still, there are lessons to be learnt. Foremost is that, if you are driving a Viva with no ABS, then you really shouldn't be driving more than 110km/h. 

Anything faster would be near suicidal, because chances are, you won't be able to slow down quickly enough before certain impact, let alone steer, making the Viva's 3-Star NCAP rating inconsequential. 

Secondly, not all cars are built equally strong regardless of their NCAP ratings. Minis, for instance, tend to fare worse than compacts or sub-compacts in accidents, albeit they have the same NCAP ratings.

Thirdly, while cars are preferable to motorcycles, when driven by the young or spirited, they can be equally dangerous, if not more so.

Hence, if you are going to drive a Viva with no ABS, or for that matter, any car with no ABS, don't drive like you're on a race track. Keep to 110km/h or slower where appropriate and drive defensively.

On the spur of the moment, you may not have any regard for your life or the safety of your passengers, but think of your loved ones.

If you die because of your recklessness, how will they cope after you're gone?