How safe are our cars in a collission

**VW Convert** · 09-02-2009, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by pologti18t

They only crash test modern cars at 64km/h, so I am not sure of what the video is supposed to prove. A collision at 110km/h would mean nearly 4 times more energy to contend with.

a 110km/h impact into a wall is equivalent to two cars hitting head on at 110km/h EACH. No car will offer any significant chance of survival at those closing speeds.

Yes it is easy to make something appear to be what it is not, you can't compare that to normal crash testing. It does make great viewing however!

Cheers

George

**Petrina Polo** · 09-02-2009, 03:53 PM

If two cars are heading 110km/h in opposite directions isnt that collision gonna be much worse than if one car hit a stationary object at 110km/h... referring to a previous post.. (Pologti18t)

**NickZ** · 09-02-2009, 04:13 PM

Correct, unless the wall is moving towards the car at 110km/h an hour, the impact is not the same as a collision at 220km/h. A head on collision with both cars doing 110km/h - well no airbags or star ratings is going to help you at that point.

**DeanB** · 09-02-2009, 04:19 PM

It depends on a lot of things.

If you hit a stationary object like a cliff wall that will not deform then all that 110km/h impact energy will travel through the car and I can't imagine anyone getting out alive. Think of those horrific accidents they show usually of P-platers crashing into telegraph poles. The pole stays standing (or maybe snaps) the car ends up in pieces for 100m down the road.

However, if you hit something stationary that deforms or breaks up/moves so that it absorbs some of that energy you have a better (though still not good) chance to get out.

If you hit another vehicle head-on at 110km/h (both of you travelling at 110km/h) and it's a direct head-on nose to nose. Like previously said it is like hitting something stationary at 220km/h, though something that will deform a bit and help disperse the energy. Nevertheless you aren't likely to get out of it alive.

If the head-on is slightly off center you have a better chance to live.

In any of these situations the odds aren't good. You have to remember that the energy involved in a 1000+kg vehicle travelling at 100+km/h is very high and that energy has to disperse somewhere. Air bags will help you with a moderate speed. Once you start talking about 100+km/h there isn't much apart from harnesses, roll-cages, safety cells, etc to help you once you start talking about hitting things head-on.

**oliverconnell** · 09-02-2009, 05:46 PM

i thought the reason the polo didn't get 5 star ncap was that the one tested didn't have side airbags and that the polo minces pedestrians really badly. got 5 stars for side impact im pretty sure.

**Dub_Star_V6** · 09-02-2009, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by leasaunce

obviously, if you crash against a much bigger car, the Polo is a no match.

Bigger is better you say? Don't believe the hype: Fifth Gear Crash-test Volvo 940 estate vs Renault Modus.

**philthy** · 09-02-2009, 06:04 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NBbnmAmC7c

polo and mk1 golf. I still wouldn't want to be in either car

**Coaster** · 09-02-2009, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by DeanB

If you hit another vehicle head-on at 110km/h (both of you travelling at 110km/h) and it's a direct head-on nose to nose. Like previously said it is like hitting something stationary at 220km/h

That isn't exactly correct. Having a head-on between 2 cars both travelling at 110km/h is the same as crashing into a stationary, solid object (like a very solid wall or big tree) at 110km/h. This concept can be applied to the simple to understand example of a car travelling at 110km/h having a head-on with a stationary car. The stationary car will go backwards after impact, thus transferring kinetic energy and minimising deformation and g-force.

Back to the topic, I thought the perception that because a car is small then it is unsafe was essentially false. Numerous small cars have 5-star ratings whilst many larger cars are 4-stars or less. And then many 4WD's and other SUV's perceived to be safe by the public have a high centre-of-gravity, resulting in many roll-overs that carry a high rate of death.

**s1831559** · 09-02-2009, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by pologti18t

a 110km/h impact into a wall is equivalent to two cars hitting head on at 110km/h EACH. No car will offer any significant chance of survival at those closing speeds.

how abt batman's car?

hope everyone stay safe, and we will never find the answer to this thread.