intheburbs wrote:
wilber1 wrote:
That's the whole point, it's the larger vehicles mass that makes the collision more dangerous, not the smaller vehicles lack of mass.
Now you're just arguing semantics. The bottom line is the occupant in the diesel will experience less force on their body. That's all I'm trying to say. The occupant in the heavier vehicle has a better chance.
Let's speak hypothetically with a semi-educated guess. The impact slows the diesel from 50 to 25 MPH. To the occupant of the diesel, it's the equivalent of hitting a brick wall at 25 MPH. The bug's velocity after impact is 25 MPH in the opposite direction. That's the equivalent of hitting a wall at 75 MPH. Who's more likely to escape with minimal injury?
Not really, you are only safer in a larger vehicle if everyone else is in a smaller vehicle. If everyone is in a larger vehicle you are less safe simply because of the amount of energy that must be absorbed in a collision. Twice as much energy must be absorbed when two 4000 lb vehicles collide than when two 2000 vehicles collide.
