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So all the tree huggers Still Want A SMART Car?
RayB:
What you doofs citing SUV "security" are ignoring is that just because statistics show people are less likely to DIE in an SUV crash, that doesn't mean they come out unscathed. So what you're really saying by choosing a car that has a higher chance of being in an accident thanks to being less maneuverable, etc, is that you don't mind a higher risk of you and your family suffering injuries, possibly life-long debilitating ones. Real "smart".
Ed_McCarron:
--- Quote from: RayB on August 31, 2009, 12:34:40 pm ---What you doofs citing SUV "security" are ignoring is that just because statistics show people are less likely to DIE in an SUV crash, that doesn't mean they come out unscathed. So what you're really saying by choosing a car that has a higher chance of being in an accident thanks to being less maneuverable, etc, is that you don't mind a higher risk of you and your family suffering injuries, possibly life-long debilitating ones. Real "smart".
--- End quote ---
Oh, so the folks in the tiny little boxes come out better than in the bigger SUV? But they're so strong! Those little boxes are SOLID!
F=ma? The more time my car/body spends decelerating, the less force my brain smacks the inside of my forehead with. SUV = 3' of crumple + 2' to the airbag. Tiny car? Half that. If not a quarter. That small, strong car with no crumple zones produces a very nicely preserved brain dead body.
I still side with the laws of physics.
As for the car being more likely to roll over, sure. Its higher. Did you notice that higher tends to equal safer? There's a reason buses sit so high. Cars crash into the passengers feet.
Driver skill plays into it, too. Drive your SUV like its a Camaro and sure, it'll roll. Have some common sense and responsibility and drive it like its a truck and you just might be better off.
shardian:
--- Quote from: Ed_McCarron on August 31, 2009, 01:09:20 pm ---
F=ma? The more time my car/body spends decelerating, the less force my brain smacks the inside of my forehead with. SUV = 3' of crumple + 2' to the airbag. Tiny car? Half that. If not a quarter. That small, strong car with no crumple zones produces a very nicely preserved brain dead body.
I still side with the laws of physics.
--- End quote ---
This is not entirely that simple. Little cars get very creative with energy dispersion. The engine compartment is designed to fold under, creating a bigger effective crumple zone than a straight line. The car also can be designed to better dissipate the force through other frame members - all stuff bigger SUV's could do, but the don't need to due to cost effectiveness.
The big problem with compact cars is point of impact. Many SUV's hit the cars much higher than the crash test simulations use. Bumper to face is much, much worse for these cars than bumper to bumper impact.
Ed_McCarron:
I swore I read that that was Smart's big claim to fame; that they didn't need a crumple zone because the internal cage was so strong. I probably misread.
Off to search. :)
HaRuMaN:
--- Quote ---The main structure of the car is a stiff structure called a Tridion Safety Cell, which is designed to activate the crumple zones of a colliding vehicle. This design creates a very strong safety cell around the passengers.
--- End quote ---
So basically, it's designed to cause the other vehicle to crumple. Which is fine... but what if you hit a smrt car with a smrt car? ;D
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