Automakers looking to bio mimicry for crash protection engineering

[MetroMPG]

Progressive crumple zone ftw!

[botsapper]

I believe from what I see the crumple zone...is the whole car!!! Smaller vehicles will begin to outnumber larger vehicles in the interest of higher FE. I hope there is still the pragmatic engineering balance of safety & lightweight structures. MB's contribution to the car industry of the 'crumple zone' will be made smaller & shorter, hence deceleration rates on the human body will be harsher. Hopefully more 'active' & 'passive' electronic safety measures will supplement collision survival.

WOAH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgjtSilW8yM&eur

[MetroMPG]

OH MY. That's a horrifying crash result!

I'm going back up the thread to look at the manatee for a while to scrub that from my memory.

[aerohead]

Death penalty for first offense drunk-driving might scare alcohol off the roads.100% seatbelt use would lower numbers for injury and fatality.Traffic light synchronization would reduce side impact collisions which can only occur at intersections.Timing the lights would keep people from "running" the light and T-Boning the other car.Enforced safe following distances.Apprehend speeders,handcuffs,trip to jail.You obviously don't care about your family or anyone elses ,so who cares if they suffer when you can't bring home the bacon.------ Then the safety devices built into the car have a real chance,if they're needed at all.And if we are going to be a "civilized" world,and consent to laws which are to protect the "public",I would promote truly Draconian penalties for those who elect to violate the law and the attorney who'd prostitute themselves in their defense.Carnage and death shouldn't become an opportunity for business growth and profit,if avoidance is achievable.Lawmakers with testicles are welcome.Police depts. with 20-20 vision and testicles are welcome.It would be a seamless transition for those who already obey the law.And they would have the comfort of knowing that something significant was in store for those who don't.Yep,I got me an attitude.

[botsapper]

As I've experienced & have read that the vast majority of vehicular accidents/crashes have been weather/road conditions related. I've unexpectedly spun on iced-over bridges in the wintertime, Landmine-like pothole avoidance & even direct hits have caused uncontrollable consequences. Invisible nighttime black ice caused unintended slides. These things happened in pre-ABS, pre- stability control, pre-traction control & pre-front/side airbag years. I remember these additions were fought off by many car manufacturers as being superfluous & expensive. Only the health/medical/insurance costs and foreign car competition implementation, did they become mandated for customers' safety expectations. The rebirth of the remaining national auto manufacturers would depend on the car buyers' perception that the cars they are producing have the most ego-satisfying, safety, economy, & value for their hard-earned money.
So even if you take out all the 'bad' drivers sharing our road, without these contemporary safety features, you still have a great chance of getting into one. Zen out & have a safe weekend.

[blueflame]

Dugong it!

Sailors used to call these creatures 'mermaids' and you can guess what for.

After a year at sea they probably start to look pretty.

Poor bored creatures stuck in a cage.