Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard
By the way, deflection away from a direct impact makes a vehicle *safer*. Engagement in a direct impact is worse than deflection.
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Exactly. Ever watch a ski jumper?
Likewise, having a moderately-strong structure which deforms/disintegrates on impact, thereby absorbing energy. A completely rigid structure OTOH transmits all the energy to the occupants. For example, compare diving into water (basically zero strength) vs the same dive onto strong concrete.