Forum Discussion
53 Replies
- What's that combo weigh, 12 metric tons? Maybe more? For sake of argument, 85 mph is roughly 36 meters/sec? So that gives the combination 8600 kilojoules of kinetic energy?
I'm having trouble finding data, but depending on design, cable barriers can absorb 100 to 1000 kilojoules. NTSB appears to only test these barricades at 61mph as a "high speed" test...
So those barricades aren't stopping huge RV, and they're not stopping loaded semitrucks. The test data I found showed a "fully loaded" pickup truck striking the barrier at 61mph had 780 kilojoules of kinetic energy. That RV had over ten times the energy of the pickup. - This video was just shown on the local news here in Asheville, NC, where I'm stopped for a few days.
It goes to show you that the cable barriers are worthless. NO VEHICLE should be able to pass over the barrier.
The family that were in the red car that dodged the motorhome were interviewed. There was some damage to their car and they feel very thankful that they were able to maneuver around the motorhome coming towards them.
Safe travels,
MM. - Comng home from work yesterday in my company van driving 65 on the interstate. Looked in the mirror and here comes a big DP Motorhome pulling a car passing me. I speed up to 77 mph and he was still pulling away from me. I just shook my head. What the heck is the big hurry? This is why these wrecks happen.
Two Jayhawks wrote:
Seemed like it took forever to stop that thing.
x2
It seems like they went quite a ways before stopping.:E- I had a guy in a similar coach to my Beaver 40' that followed me for 20-30 miles on Interstate 75 in Tampa of course it was in a construction area as always. I kept my speed down to 40 as they had barricades all along the side and it was skinny to drive on. As soon as we got past the construction the guy passed me in the left lane quickly and I had sped up to 60 already. He was out of site in minutes. About an hour later I pulled in to the State Park and there he was parked and setting up. Guess he had to get there a certain time....?
- Although I don't have a MH, I pull a TT but I always respect my tire limits! If it's written on the sidewall 'Do not exceed 62 mph' then I drive a max of 60. But these people pull'n their TT's and I see a lot of them fly pass me as if I'm standing still, then they wonder why they get a blowout and then blame it on the tires. No! Blame yourself.
mike brez wrote:
Terryallan wrote:
IMOP, All MHs, and big truck should be required to have "steer straight" units installed on the steering axle. A "shock" that helps the driver keep it straight during a blow out
Who is to say he didn't have one? I have a Blue Ox true center but never had a front tire blow out so can't say if it helps any or at all.
What I do like about having one is that mine is adjustable on the fly and I can adjust for road crown and wind.
I have seen them in action. When you have steering tire blow out. With the brand I saw. You could control the truck / buss with one hand. Prevents the flat from jerking the wheel out of your hand. I also remember they were demonstrated at Rockingham race way.Terryallan wrote:
IMOP, All MHs, and big truck should be required to have "steer straight" units installed on the steering axle. A "shock" that helps the driver keep it straight during a blow out
Who is to say he didn't have one? I have a Blue Ox true center but never had a front tire blow out so can't say if it helps any or at all.
What I do like about having one is that mine is adjustable on the fly and I can adjust for road crown and wind.- I wonder why the driver filming pulled over. He could have had better film if he had continued.
Those cables slice through cars too. I saw a car in Springfield, MO that tried to go through the cables and it was in pieces. - I always wondered about those cable barriers...now I know.
Here in California there is a state wide project of putting concrete barriers on all four lane highways to prevent exactly what happened to that RV.
