[VIDEO] Small v. Big Cars and Safety

[LostCause]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Set a 55mph speed limit for all vehicles above 4000lb. That'll discourage all lot of the discretionary SUV purchases.

If only speed limits were enforced. I see semis going 60-70mph+ even though that speed kills their mileage. I see cars pulling trailers going 70-75mph all the time. I think I've seen a CHP once over the last month (usually going 80-85mph, or next to someone pulled over). In fact, I think I am the only one going 55mph.

Originally Posted by Daox

If you search youtube you can find a video clip of a Smart hitting a cement barrier head on. It holds up pretty well.

The occupant cell held up well, but I wonder what the actual forces on the occupants were. The smart has a smaller crush zone to absorb energy, but then again it has a lot less energy due to its mass...

Race cars generally hold up well in high speed accidents, but drivers often receive internal trauma or get basal neck fractures due to the forces placed on their body. I wonder what the SMART test data showed. Is it rated yet?

- LostCause

[Red]

Originally Posted by LostCause

If only speed limits were enforced. I see semis going 60-70mph+ even though that speed kills their mileage. I see cars pulling trailers going 70-75mph all the time. I think I've seen a CHP once over the last month.

Yeah, you are lucky to see one once a month. When you do see them most don't bother hunting anyone unless they are doing 85-90

Smart hitting the wall @ 70 mph
You'd get cut and bruised pretty bad but you'd be able to walk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJHpUO-S0i8

Oldie but a goodie, an H1 demolishing a Civic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dm4BBWwRvc

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Red

Smart hitting the wall @ 70 mph
You'd get cut and bruised pretty bad but you'd be able to walk

In the full version of that 5th Gear video, Tiff Needle points out that the G forces in this impact were so high that there is absolutely no chance anyone could survive this crash, even the passenger.

[NoCO2]

That SMART crash at 70MPH was just brutal! I think if more people saw that video they would agree it's a little more safe then most people give it credit for!

I was laughing really hard too when he showed that the passenger side door was in perfect condition...gotta love good ol' fiber glass body structures! They tend to shatter rather then bend so either the door will be fine like it was on the passenger side or it won't exist, like on the driver's side.

[elhigh]

Originally Posted by Red

Oldie but a goodie, an H1 demolishing a Civic

I hope this doesn't repost the video...

Anyway, "...let them (the police) take care of the criminals." It is implied in the word "citizen" that failing to act in the name of justice is an abdication of a citizen's duty. So, while Hummer Owner might be acting out of rage, he was also not entirely out of place to act as he did.

And as for the Civic losing the the Hummer: when the SUV is driven all the heck over your car, the old impact tests are no longer valid. After the first deliberate impact, the Civic was less a car and more a berm to the Hummer.

[RH77]

Originally Posted by NoCO2

That SMART crash at 70MPH was just brutal! I think if more people saw that video they would agree it's a little more safe then most people give it credit for!

I was laughing really hard too when he showed that the passenger side door was in perfect condition...gotta love good ol' fiber glass body structures! They tend to shatter rather then bend so either the door will be fine like it was on the passenger side or it won't exist, like on the driver's side.

It doesn't matter what you're driving, 70MPH into a wall will likely kill you in ANYTHING.

There are 4 collisions in an accident:

1. The Vehicle into either another vehicle or stationary object
2. The human body against the restraint or vehicle part
3. Human organs inside the body cavity (or external: retinal sepraration)
4. ...and the "Opposite Reaction": the recoil: Often times the brain striking the back of the skull as the forces reverse from the impact

The chances you take as a free-thinking human being are dictated by numerous factors. Dying in a vehicle accident is less likely than cancer, heart disease, etc -- but you don't see people here preaching a healthy diet and exercise?

My take -- it's all BS to get people to buy bigger vehicles for a false sense of security + selfishness. If you're offended, no apologies.

RH77

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by NoCO2

I was laughing really hard too when he showed that the passenger side door was in perfect condition...gotta love good ol' fiber glass body structures! They tend to shatter rather then bend so either the door will be fine like it was on the passenger side or it won't exist, like on the driver's side.

The Smart is built with an all steel structure and a some plastic trim panels on the exterior.
http://blog.checkeredflag.com/photos...idion_cell.jpg

[Red]

Not sure if this will aid in the discussion or not, but I saw a blue Smart on the highway for the first time today, it was doing about 65-70mph. Strangest thing I have ever seen. I have no idea about its exact size but it was about the length of my hood, 3/4s of my width and it was about as tall as the bottom of my windows. The passengers looked to be about 4-6" from the back wall, honestly 4-6" from everything but the wind shield. This thing looked pretty small. Rommie would look like a pig compared to it. I understand that this is a safe car, but it really looked like a little toy I could almost park on top of.

[DifferentPointofView]

I could almost park on top of.

I know some people that CAN park on top of it...

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted by Red

Not sure if this will aid in the discussion or not, but I saw a blue Smart on the highway for the first time today, it was doing about 65-70mph. Strangest thing I have ever seen. I have no idea about its exact size but it was about the length of my hood, 3/4s of my width and it was about as tall as the bottom of my windows. The passengers looked to be about 4-6" from the back wall, honestly 4-6" from everything but the wind shield. This thing looked pretty small. Rommie would look like a pig compared to it. I understand that this is a safe car, but it really looked like a little toy I could almost park on top of.

We actually have quite a few of them running around here, I haven't even noticed anyone being an ass towards them either.
I guess they look like a toy but they are like 1800 or 1900lbs crammed into half the volume of a normal car... A better concept is to think of them like a little wrecking ball...
They steal crumple space from almost anything they hit except for the largest SUV's.
Ian