Vehicles

Vehicles

People, especially Americans, have always been obsessed with the idea of labor-saving machinery. No matter our age, gender, race, economic status, or geographic location, we are taught that the automobile is the answer to our prayers. So why walk when you can ride? Wouldn't this be the best thing to do during the zombie outbreak? Travel time would go from days to mere hours. Equipment storage would no longer be a problem. And wouldn't running zombies over erase the threat of their bite? The answer to all of these questions is, of course, yes. However, with these strong advantages comes a bunch of equally-strong problems.

The first problem is fuel consumption. Gas stations may be spread thin. Chances are that the ones you do find will have been drained long ago. You must determine the exact mileage of your vehicle, pack it with extra fuel, and plan the exact route(s) you will take. These steps are great, but they will only take you so far.


Which path will lead you to safety? Most roads, especially in North America, quickly become blocked by abandoned vehicles after an infection hits. Other obstacles may include destroyed bridges, piles of debris, barricades abandoned by last-ditch defenders, and possibly the random downed plane. Off-roading also presents an equal if not greater challenge. Roaming the countryside, searching for an open path to freedom is the best way to run out of gas.


Also, imagine breaking down. The automobile is one of the most complicated machines on earth. On bad roads, without a convenient auto garage, this machine will swiftly become a pile of useless junk.


There is also noise. Any powered engine, no matter how good the muffler, will generate more noise than the loudest human footstep. If you find yourself in a vehicle that, for whatever reason, cannot go another foot, then grab your gear and run! Up until this moment, you have been announcing your presence to every Infected in the surrounding area. Roaring through an infestation sounds great when things are going well. But any problem can make you end up alone, on foot, with a lot of bad things quickly heading your way. (The vehicle in the image above is specified at the bottom of this post.)


The following is a short list of typical vehicles and their advantages and disadvantages.


The Sedan
Otherwise known as your basic "car". It has thousands of variants, making it difficult to generalize about their advantages and disadvantages. When selecting, look for gas mileage, equipment and gas storage space, and durability. The sedan's one major drawback is their lack of all-terrain capability. As previously mentioned, all roads may be blocked, jammed, or destroyed. If you own a sedan, ask yourself how if would perform crossing a field. Just add snow, rocks, mud, ditches, tree stumps, streambeds, and a variety of abandoned junk. Chances are your sedan will not get very far. Keep in mind that the jammed roads just mentioned are usually filled with broken-down and/or stuck sedans.


The SUV
With the off-road capability of a military vehicle and the comfort and reliability of a sedan, they might appear to be the ideal means of escape. What could be better for fleeing the Infected? A lot. Not all SUVs are equipped for all-terrain driving, despite their appearance. But what about safety? Shouldn't the sheer mass of such large vehicles offer more protection? Well, repeated consumer studies have shown that many SUVs possess safety standards well below that of many mid-sized sedans. However, that being said, some of these vehicles are truly what they appear to be: rugged, dependable workhorses that can handle unforgiving conditions. If choosing a SUV, make sure to research your options carefully so that you can tell these genuine models from the gas-guzzling fakes.


The Truck
This class refers to any mid-sized cargo vehicles such as vans, delivery trucks, and recreational vehicles. With poor gas mileage, limited off-road capability (depending on the model), and massive, ungainly bulk, these vehicles should be considered the worst choice in transportation.


The Bus
These large road monsters, as with the previous class, can present as much a danger to their drivers as to the Infected. They lack speed, maneuverability, fuel efficiency, off-road capability, stealth, and any other feature you will need to escape an infested area. If a bus has any form of "advantage", it is in defense, not escape. It would be possible to drive a bus into an infested areaa and use it as a mobile fortress, only after upgrading its armor and reinforcing the windows with bars or steel grates. Unless you plan on using a bus in this particular way, stay clear of them.


The Armored Car
These civilian tanks are hard to find. Unless you work for a private security company or have a vast, personal fortune, it will be unlikely that you will have access to one. Despite their poor mileage and lack of all-terrain capability, they present a number of disadvantages for those of you on the run. Their massive armor gives the driver virtual invulnerability. Even in a breakdown, those inside could survive for as long as their provisions held out. No zombie force of any size or strength could ever be capable of penetrating the reinforced steel.


The Motorcycle
For fleeing an infested area, the motorcycle is by far the best choice. They can reach places inaccessible to four-wheeled vehicles, and their speed and maneuverability allows them to be ridden right through a crowd of Infected or a crowed road of abandoned vehicles. Their light weight makes it possible for them to be pushed for miles, but, of cours, there are drawbacks. Motorcycles have small gas tanks, and they offer zero protection from Infected. If you choose this vehicle, note that most fatalities when using the motorcycle to flee an infested area will probably come from ordinary accidents from reckless and/or arrogant riders.


The Bicycle
This vehicle is fast, quiet, muscle-powered, and easy to maintain. The bicyle is also the only vehicle that you can pick up and carry if the terrain gets too rough. We recommend using a mountain bike, rather than the racing or recreational models. However, don't let the speed and mobility get to your head. Choose caution over speed, and wear standard safety gear if available. The very last thing you need would be to end up in a ditch with your legs broken and bike trashed. Especially with the moans of the Infected drawing nearer.



Personally, I would choose one of the dependable, rugged, and durable SUVs for the Infected. Each one of you will have your own opinion and choice of preferred vehicle, however giving their obvious strength and cargo space, I would have to say a vehicle such as the Hummer. They're civilian vehicles modeled after the military's High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee). Choose whatever vehicle you think most efficient, but know that you are taking your life into the hands, or rather the wheels, of that vehicle.

-The vehicle in the above image is the Conquest KNIGHT XV, starting at around $500,000 USD... yeah, I know-

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Credits to Max Brooks' "The Zombie Survival Guide"

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