Demonstration of 50 Years of Crash Safety Improvement
by walter on Jan.22, 2010, under Dissonance
Visited 350 times, 1 so far today
Everyone always thinks old cars are tanks, and therefore safer than new, lighter cars. This video of a crash involving a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu demonstrates how likely it is that such thinking is wrong. In one car, you’re dead. In the other, you walk away with a limp.
Thanks to Mick for the link to this video.
3 Comments for this entry
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January 23rd, 2010 on 12:39 am
1970 I saved my money bought a new Porsche Targa. A month or so later, Air Force Safety magazine had a picture of “my car” looked like it had been through the car crusher. It had left the road at over 140mph, went end-over-end 3 times. Both occupants unfastened their seat belts and walked away, almost unscratched. From that day, I have not gone over 50 feet without my seat belts. When I drive, I drive, nothing else. Since 1960 I have had two accidents, hit from behind both times. I think I have pretty good odds, even without air-bags. But the air-bags gives all the drunk drivers multiple shots at me–he can hit me, or others, and if we (likely) both survive, he can stay on the road to try again. An interesting problem in statistics, but maybe air-bags actually reduce the safety of good safe drivers?
How about this–One DWI, and you get your seat belts and air-bags removed for one year.
January 22nd, 2010 on 11:44 pm
I guess the progress we have made is a good thing. Or maybe it is an explanation for how stupid Americans have become–Passive restraints (collapsible steering columns, air bags, reinforced passenger cages…) protect people who are too dumb to fasten a seat belt, and have head-on accidents. They survive to drive again, and breed dumb little kids.
Evolution is pretty slow, but do you have any idea how fast de-evolution happens if you remove natural selection from the environment? I bet is is scary fast.
1) evolution through natural selection causes the average intelligence to go up
2) societies form and advance
3) weak, sick and stupid are protected from natural selection
4) WSS proliferate
5) noitulove happens.
repeat as necessary.
Nah, just being cynical. It was a good video. I think I am just pissed about the Supreme Court’s campaign financing decision..
January 23rd, 2010 on 12:05 am
Remember Mick, there may be two parties in a crash. If I get hit by a drunk, it doesn’t matter how smart I am; I’m still going to get messed up in that old car that doesn’t have the crumple zones, collapsible steering, air bags, etc. Have a cookie and feel better.