Paladin. wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:08:... a 5,000 pound 1976 Ford LTD with hydralic rams on the bumpers and steel beams in the doors. This is the class of vehicle often seen outside of bars at 1:30 am -- for a very good reason: the risk of injury in the event of a collision are greatly reduced. You can trade risky behaviour for protection and stay at the same level of risk of injury.
The old saying goes something like; 'the Lord protects children, drunks and fools'.
Ever wonder why it seems like the odds are against the law-abiding citizen who is killed and the speeder survives on the highway?
Ever do any target shooting, in particular along the lines of high(er) powered, flat shooting varmint stuff and such?
It is amazing the damage a smaller round can impart on a target as it's velocity increases, basically- mass x velocity = energy. Bullit vs. larger orange;
Two cars traveling at the same speed, the larger car’s mass “wins”. The occupants in the smaller vehicle or bike experience more deceleration, while the larger one continues, at the expense of the other, smaller ones energy.
Now imagine the guy leaves the bar and gets into your LTD (or any “big ride”) vs., a late model “$hit-box” (that has little/no steel and much less mass than the LTD) or bike. What this driver has done, additionally, is increase his potential energy and his chances to impart
more death and destruction while protecting himself. Unless the oncoming smaller car has more velocity and can transfer it to the larger one and the smaller's airbags and seat belts all work.
So increasing your mass may not always, but usually increase your odds. Most would prefer to be in the LTD vs. a Volkswagen, in town. However as velocities go up on the highway, faster cars can and do "win".
It does not have to be an "cage"; a motorcycle will do, if the bike's velocity is fast enough, multiple deaths can occur;
"The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 3m (10 feet) from where the collision took place.
* All three involved (two in car and rider) were killed
instantly."
http://www.sandstorming.com/index.php/2005/08/250-kmh-crash-pictures/The bike/rider was 'successful' in overpowering the car in this case and flipping it. (An extreme example, only one I could find). Who knows had he cleared the car instead of entering it, might have had sufficient time to decel & survive, if no other obstacles, also his mass would not have contributed as much energy, but think the passengers chances would not have improved much.
A larger vehicle will always have more mass, than a smaller one, but it may not always have more energy. 8)
Where is the LTD? Gone w/ $1 gas!
So what do you drive now?
What will we drive w/ $3 gas? or $4?
:'(
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