which part of "equal mass" wasn't obvious?
which part of "equal mass" wasn't obvious?
Nope, more to do with the fact that if you have two vehicles of similar mass collide head on at 100km/h the total impact is a combined 200km/h. Split that between two vehicles and it's a split of 100km/h each (in ideal situations). Nothing to do with crumple zones etc. It can't be 200km/h of force each (yes I know f= m x a but I'm simplifying things here) because that would mean a combined speed of 400km/h.
The speed thing is interesting.
Pretty much hit anything dead on at over about 65 and it's a coin toss. Hit anything dead on between 30 and 60 and you're gonna get badly hurt.
Whether you're doing 100 or 115 is pretty much irrelevant. If you hit something you are absolutely dead. Having said that I am yet to see evidence that proves a link between exceeding the limit by less than 20% and increased crashes. The only argument is that kinetic energy causes damage to humans at an exponential rate.
I have personal experience in hitting a vehicle straight on at close to 60km/hr (pickup truck pulls out of driveway onto highway, sees bike, slams on brakes and stops. Bike doesn't quite stop in time). I really don't recommend it. Slowing down quickly from that speed hurts. For a long time. And puts a fair few nasty scratches and dents in your bike.
The biggest problem isn't you falling off through going over the speed limit. It's being able to avoid and stop in time to mitigate the unexpected.
But speed is exhilarating and fun. And we love it.
And I to my motorcycle parked like the soul of the junkyard. Restored, a bicycle fleshed with power, and tore off. Up Highway 106 continually drunk on the wind in my mouth. Wringing the handlebar for speed, wild to be wreckage forever.
- James Dickey, Cherrylog Road.
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