Offset Impacts are Mesmerizing


This video has been around for a while, but I still find it kind of hypnotic, what with crash after crash happening to the dulcet tones of Love’s Alone Again Or. It also makes me want to wear clown makeup whenever I go somewhere, on the off chance I get into an accident, so I can compare smudges with the dummies in the video.

[youtube width=”640″ height=”505″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk5cp93zefk[/youtube]
Titled 40-MPH, the video is filled with cars from the first half of this decade, and it might be interesting to compare these shots – compiled in 2006 – with similar models’ results today. Maybe a 40-MPH Part II – Crash Harder?

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  1. K5ING Avatar

    Those didn't look too bad. Check out this Holden Commodore! I think it's made out of tin foil!!!
    [youtube CgjtSilW8yM&feature=fvw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgjtSilW8yM&feature=fvw youtube]

    1. FЯeeMan Avatar

      Almost as good as that old VW German road works vehicle that was used to test out a new test facility. Generally not good when the axles meet in the middle.

  2. FЯeeMan Avatar

    I was thinking to myself, "Self, they're testin' a lot of right-hand drive cars!", then the shots got closer and I realized they'd flipped the video for dramatic effect. Or something…
    Then I though – seat belts seem to be nearly useless. In every one of those crashes, it looks like the dummy's head nearly hits the steering wheel, and the seat back is closely following. Not particularly confidence inspiring…

    1. Mad_Hungarian Avatar

      yeah, I thought particularly in newer cars with seat belt pre-tensioners, the belt was supposed to cinch up and do a better job of holding you on the seat. When actually about all you can say is the belt keeps you in front of the airbag (except in the Elantra toward the end, where it looks like the bag gets behind the driver somehow). Query though, if the shoulder belt held the driver's torso more firmly in place, would the forces on the driver's neck be greater as a result and would that be a good idea.

      1. smokyburnout Avatar

        I know that at race car speeds, holding the torso in place and allowing the neck to take more force is a recipe for death (see NASCAR pre-HANS device, circa 2000-2001). At street car speeds, you'd probably run into serious neck injuries.

  3. Damon Wenkrik Avatar

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