Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Idiots don't wear seat belts.

You've probably heard about the gruesome injuries sustained by New Jersey's governor in a car crash. The other two people aboard had only bumps and bruises. Why? Because they were wearing their seat belts. I found a fine description of the physics and injuries involved, including the people who say they don't wear the belts because they want to be "thrown clear."

Sure, you hear people talking about wanting to be “thrown clear” in the event of an accident. If you want to simulate being “thrown clear,” go to the fifth floor of a building and jump out the window.

Let’s talk briefly about being thrown clear, because it happens more often than you’d think. Unrestrained driver: side impact. Vehicle spins. Driver goes out the window. In one case I recall, the driver was half-way out his window when the vehicle rolled over on top of him. That was the second-most grotesque scene I’ve ever been to. Another scene, the driver went out the window when it spun. The vehicle went into a snow bank and was drivable from the scene. The driver went into a river and drowned.
If you know someone who doesn't wear seat belts, all the time every time, show them this article. They're an idiot.

4 comments:

Kathy said...

I've always wanted to know what kind of fucking moron would want to be thrown from a moving motor vehicle in the event of an accident, instead of staying inside your roll cage with your airbags and all the other stuff they've developed to keep you secure in the event of an accident.

Scratch that, I don't want to know. If I know you and you don't realize the physics of being "thrown clear", even at "slow speeds" (I've been on a bike going 20-30 mph, and it feels pretty fast when you're not cocooned inside a car) then please don't tell me you're that guy. I'd never be done smacking you square on the jaw.

Allen G said...

Well, all it takes is one person who manages to get "thrown clear" and come out unhurt to "prove" that it's safe.

This is the same logic that would imply that become people have survived falling from 20,000 feet, that it should be the preferred method.

If someone you know doesn't want to fasten their seatbelt, at least make sure that they have a signed organ donor card.

Dave(id) said...

A brother who describes his duties as a fatal crash investigator in detail is enough to make you never get in a car again. Brutal stuff out there. Human bodies not meant for those sort of physics.

Mkae said...

I really expected someone from the "thrown clear" lobby to chime in. They're usually the individual that "doesn't like to be told what to do by THE MAN". They, coincidentally, are also the ones that refuse to wear motorcycle helmets (more physics for you there involving a sledgehammer, a pendulum and a ripe watermelon).

Ah well. I like seat belts because it makes me feel like my car is hugging me.

What are you looking at?