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The Physics Behind Car Crashes

Guinnessy writes "Physics Today has an article on Vehicle Design and the Physics of Traffic Safety. The article analyzes in detail typical crashes experienced between cars, and cars with SUVs'. According to Marc Ross, Deena Patel, and Tom Wenzel, "The evidence is compelling that body-on-frame light trucks cannot safely coexist with passenger cars under existing conditions. That problem is critical because so many light trucks are used nowadays as car substitutes." They suggest some ways in which both cars and SUVs' can be redesigned to improve safety. Meanwhile Detriot News reports on a Pediatrics journal study says that claims that children are no safer in SUVs than cars because of the rollover risks."

11 of 732 comments (clear)

  1. I reckon.. by DeathByDuke · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..that one of their findings was that cars dont explode upon slightly touching each other!

    1. Re:I reckon.. by genner · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, it's gotten bad. Back in the 80's they realy knew how to make a car. Sure they would flip but everyone would get out unharmed , just in time for the A-Team to chase them down.

  2. Well, that settles it then... by shmlco · · Score: 5, Funny
    "The evidence is compelling that body-on-frame light trucks cannot safely coexist with passenger cars..."

    Well, that settles it then. It's obvious we need to outlaw passenger cars. Not only will that remove millions of unsafe cars from the road, it will give a much needed economic boost to the SUV manufacturers.

    Besides, if a car is unsafe around a light body truck, it must be a death trap around a standard truck or a semi-tractor trailer rig...

    --
    Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
    1. Re:Well, that settles it then... by Oldsmobile · · Score: 5, Funny

      "I find it amusing when the vehicle is blamed rather than the operator.

      I agree. Seatbelts ought to be BANNED and a large spike pointing at the drivers chest should be fitted on the steering column. Not only would it make people drive really safely, it would cut down on motoring.

      --
      Some say he is made with ascii, others that he is eyeballed daily by millions. All we know is, he is known as the Sig
  3. Re:get some priorities! by radja · · Score: 3, Funny

    ok then. let's have a party.

    --

    No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
    --Sheikh Abd-Al-Kadir, 1587
  4. Canyonero! by Life700MB · · Score: 3, Funny


    12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
    65 tons of American Pride!

    Canyonero! Canyonero!

    Top of the line in utility sports,
    Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!

    Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)

    (Entire lyrics here)


    --
    Superb hosting 20GB Storage, 1_TB_ bandwidth, ssh, $7.95

  5. Re:Chinese SUV by bobdotorg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Overheard at a cafe in Stockholm:

    Volvo Engineer: But your SUV is so dangerous - it has no crumple zones.

    Chinese Car Salesman: Silly Swede. You Volvo my crumple zone.

    --
    __ Someday, but not this morning, I'll finally learn to use the preview button.
  6. This Is Genius! by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 3, Funny

    The hood in front of the car is lifted a few inches after 40 or so milliseconds so the pedestrian gets lifted as well and won't get run over by the car but lands on the softer hood and might hit the car glass.

    Wow! That's great! Now instead of plebs getting messily caught in my undercarraige, they'll just hit the bonnet and windshield and bounce right off! I can just turn on the sprinklers and wash the blood right off while I sip on my latte! This is genius!

    The only downside I can think of is that they may be inconsiderately be wearing metallic objects that might scratch my paintjob. That's a serious issue with this system. Perhaps it would be better if they were bumped to the side instead, preferably to the sidewalk, as that way they wouldn't fly into any oncoming drivers, thus exacerabting the problem.

    --
    May the Maths Be with you!
  7. Re:weight& speed are the big issue here by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny

    But strangely, the bus will rapidly gain mass after an accident, from all the people who said they were on the bus and want to file an injury claim. Even stranger, this mass gain happens even when the accident is simulated.

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  8. Obligatory Simpsons quote by ning · · Score: 3, Funny
    Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
    smells like a steak and seats thirty-five..

    Canyonero! Canyonero!

    Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down,
    It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown!

    Canyonero! (Yah!) Canyonero!
    [Krusty:] Hey Hey

    The Federal Highway comission has ruled the
    Canyonero unsafe for highway or city driving.

    Canyonero!

    12 yards long, 2 lanes wide,
    65 tons of American Pride!

    Canyonero! Canyonero!

    Top of the line in utility sports,
    Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!

    Canyonero! Canyonero! (Yah!)

    She blinds everybody with her super high beams,
    She's a squirrel crushing, deer smacking, driving machine!

    Canyonero!-oh woah, Canyonero!

    Support your local lyrics site!

  9. Re:Physics of car crashes aren't intuitive. by Karma+Farmer · · Score: 3, Funny

    I suppose I don't need to draw any pictures of what this did to the four occupants.

    This is how we know you're lying -- no H2 has ever had four passengers at the same time.

    Unless you mean the driver and three bags of groceries.