| Warning to Law Enforcement City, County, State, and Federal workers. Impala, Cavalier, Mustang, Crown Victoria, SUV's All Drivers of High Effort Steering" vehicles www.miketomich.com |
The Chevrolet Impala is unsafe to drive. The steering system is designed with a "high effort steering" requirement by the driver to turn
the steering wheel. Contrary to the older 1 finger steering systems in the vehicles of the 60's, 70's and 80's, the Impala requires force
delivery by the whole hand to turn it. Physical health of drivers is being permanently injured by drivers fingers becoming bent and
twisted, loss of thumb use or movement restrictions, chronic pain in the back-neck-shoulders-hips, disk compression in the back and
neck requiring medical operations, headaches, and much more.
the steering wheel. Contrary to the older 1 finger steering systems in the vehicles of the 60's, 70's and 80's, the Impala requires force
delivery by the whole hand to turn it. Physical health of drivers is being permanently injured by drivers fingers becoming bent and
twisted, loss of thumb use or movement restrictions, chronic pain in the back-neck-shoulders-hips, disk compression in the back and
neck requiring medical operations, headaches, and much more.
The force the driver must exert to overcome the steering wheels resistance to turning can only be generated and delivered by the human
body with a force that results in a shock load to the skeletal system, and soft tissues, from the fingers to the hips joints and knees. This is
called a dynamic force (see website glossary). The dynamic force inflicts permanent micro damage with every turn of the steering wheel or
steering course correction. Each dynamic force generates a permanent injury to our skeletal and soft tissues of our body and each and
every one is an accumulative injury.
The finger deformities start to occur when the steering wheel is turned the first time. With in a few thousand miles deformities can appear
as a small hard bump on a joint. (This will be part of the knuckle because it is either twisting or shifting to conform to the gripping surface of
the steering wheel). You physician may call it the start of a cyst or arthritis. At 6,000 miles, if you look closely, you should be able to see
twisting of the joints and outward bending of the thumb(s) (depending on how and where the wheel is grasped).
The damage to the fingers occurs without warning possibly due to the steering wheel vibration (drive line vibration, road noise, etc.). I drove
a 1986 Chevrolet Impala before I purchased the 2000 Impala. The 86 was one finger steering and enjoyable to drive. Never felt bad after
driving it. When I first drove my 2000 Impala, there was a stinging in all my fingers. It felt like bee stings/needles. What I didn't realize is
the sphere to sphere mechanical contacts of the knuckles were being peened (see glossary). The start of the damage that lead to inability
to use my thumbs and fingers becoming bent and twisted.
If you drive an Impala, your physical health is being silently and permanently injured. Somewhere there is an agency that maintains a
restricted list of vehicles that can only be purchased for police duty.
The Ford Crown Victoria has a lighter steering effort, however, it has an initial resistance to turning that also results is physically damaging
dynamic forces, mainly experienced as chronic lower back pain.
body with a force that results in a shock load to the skeletal system, and soft tissues, from the fingers to the hips joints and knees. This is
called a dynamic force (see website glossary). The dynamic force inflicts permanent micro damage with every turn of the steering wheel or
steering course correction. Each dynamic force generates a permanent injury to our skeletal and soft tissues of our body and each and
every one is an accumulative injury.
The finger deformities start to occur when the steering wheel is turned the first time. With in a few thousand miles deformities can appear
as a small hard bump on a joint. (This will be part of the knuckle because it is either twisting or shifting to conform to the gripping surface of
the steering wheel). You physician may call it the start of a cyst or arthritis. At 6,000 miles, if you look closely, you should be able to see
twisting of the joints and outward bending of the thumb(s) (depending on how and where the wheel is grasped).
The damage to the fingers occurs without warning possibly due to the steering wheel vibration (drive line vibration, road noise, etc.). I drove
a 1986 Chevrolet Impala before I purchased the 2000 Impala. The 86 was one finger steering and enjoyable to drive. Never felt bad after
driving it. When I first drove my 2000 Impala, there was a stinging in all my fingers. It felt like bee stings/needles. What I didn't realize is
the sphere to sphere mechanical contacts of the knuckles were being peened (see glossary). The start of the damage that lead to inability
to use my thumbs and fingers becoming bent and twisted.
If you drive an Impala, your physical health is being silently and permanently injured. Somewhere there is an agency that maintains a
restricted list of vehicles that can only be purchased for police duty.
The Ford Crown Victoria has a lighter steering effort, however, it has an initial resistance to turning that also results is physically damaging
dynamic forces, mainly experienced as chronic lower back pain.
Suggested additional reading:
| What corrective actions can you take as a driver? If you depend on a high effort steering vehicle as law enforcement does with the Impala, you will want to contact your supervisor and physician making them aware of any chronic pain, finger deformities, etc. In any event you will want to ask for corrective actions to prevent escalating injuries from interfering with your working abilities/duties. General Motor's and any other manufacturer of the "high effort steering" vehicles should be notified. A complaint should be filed with The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1-888-327-4236 Contact your risk management department. |
Impala - Taxi duty in Jacksonville, Florida
Causes deformed (bent/twisted) arthritic fingers, chronic
back-shoulder-neck-wrist-hip-knee pain, carpal tunnel, numbness in
fingers-hands, sciatic nerve pain, Rheumatoid Arthritic joints, and more.
Causes deformed (bent/twisted) arthritic fingers, chronic
back-shoulder-neck-wrist-hip-knee pain, carpal tunnel, numbness in
fingers-hands, sciatic nerve pain, Rheumatoid Arthritic joints, and more.
Ford Crown Victoria Patrol Car, ST. John County, Florida
Causes lower back pain
Causes lower back pain
These skeletal injuries are typical of people driving the 'high effort
steering' Chevrolet Impala. This vehicle is unsafe to drive at any
speed. The stiff, tight, heavy, "high effort steering" requires the
driver to deliver a force, to overcome the resistance of the
steering wheel to turn, that exceeds the strength of their bone
mass.
The dynamic results in these finger deformities and physical
functional loss to the fingers, such as loss of gripping strength.
The dynamic forces are also responsible for rheumatoid arthritis
due to joint deterioration from the shock loading dynamic forces.
Constant mini-trauma shock loads are delivered to the soft
tissue disc's in the back and cartilage.
The accumulated results of the dynamic force shock loads leads
to and is responsible for carpal tunnel,
back-neck-shoulder-hip-knee-wrist-finger pains, tingling,
numbness in fingers, face, ears, and many unnecessary medical
operations.
The world-wide automotive industry much reduce the steering
wheel static weight and effort to prevent new injuries and
advancement of existing injuries.
steering' Chevrolet Impala. This vehicle is unsafe to drive at any
speed. The stiff, tight, heavy, "high effort steering" requires the
driver to deliver a force, to overcome the resistance of the
steering wheel to turn, that exceeds the strength of their bone
mass.
The dynamic results in these finger deformities and physical
functional loss to the fingers, such as loss of gripping strength.
The dynamic forces are also responsible for rheumatoid arthritis
due to joint deterioration from the shock loading dynamic forces.
Constant mini-trauma shock loads are delivered to the soft
tissue disc's in the back and cartilage.
The accumulated results of the dynamic force shock loads leads
to and is responsible for carpal tunnel,
back-neck-shoulder-hip-knee-wrist-finger pains, tingling,
numbness in fingers, face, ears, and many unnecessary medical
operations.
The world-wide automotive industry much reduce the steering
wheel static weight and effort to prevent new injuries and
advancement of existing injuries.
| Click picture NBC-TV 25 News Flint, Mi USA (2:11min) |
| Click Picture for Additional Injury Photo's (flickr.com) |
| Click (Inside our book) for further information and pictures about this discovery. "Inside our book" |
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