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Reader Comments for
Subscribe to this threadVIDEO: smart fortwo crash test leaks out of IIHS
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Gregg @ Apr 29th 2008 11:02AM
What is does show is that it is a tad safer than several other (much bigger) subcompacts.
Dan @ Apr 29th 2008 1:09PM
No, it doesn't. You can't meaningfully compare barrier tests between vehicles of greatly dissimilar weight.
Gregg @ Apr 29th 2008 1:29PM
So would you rather be in an Accent or Aveo in a crash than a smart? I wouldn't.
Xcountryflyer @ Apr 29th 2008 1:29PM
I don't know why anyone is worried about a barrier test. If I recall, these barrier tests are equivalent of hitting a car of the same size. It's a problem, when the car you're hitting is a Hummer H2.
black @ Apr 29th 2008 1:58PM
@ Xcountryflyer
Whether you hit a small barrier, or a military tank, you will experience the same magnitude of forces, if the speed is the same. I guess you haven't heard of Newton's third law?
Disgruntled Goat @ Apr 29th 2008 2:48PM
So I guess if I hit a barrier or a Siamese cat going 40 then the forces will be the same?
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Craig @ Apr 29th 2008 3:32PM
So the Siamese cat comment, the barrier is a good representation of hitting a stationary object that STAYS stationary (and dense) at impact. The cat doesn't qualify as it's not as dense as a car nor will it obstruct the forces of inertia to any great degree. Hitting a Aveo or an Excursion would have different results, mainly in the area of impact distribution (an Aveo would have more mass lower). Also, an Aveo would move more upon impact and therefore lessen the force of the crash. But they're they're both very solid and large objects, as is the barrier used in these tests.
Also - this test it's really a good indication of a collision of two cars at speed (front on). Just of one moving car hitting a stationary one.
Dan @ Apr 29th 2008 4:29PM
Provided the passenger cage holds up and you are not crushed to death by deforming structure, most serious injuries in an accident are caused by rapid acceleration pulling your internal tissues apart and knocking your brain against your skull.
An 1800 lb billiard ball (we'll label it "Smart") struck by another moving object s going to experience significantly greater acceleration than a 2600 lb billiard ball labelled "Accent"
physics4dummies @ Apr 29th 2008 4:32PM
Some of these posts are hilarious...
A barrier crash is roughly the equivalent of hitting the same size vehicle traveling toward you at the same speed (in this case 40 mph). If you hit the barrier, you go from 40 mph to 0 mph (the barrier doesn't move). If you hit another car of identical mass going 40, you go from 40 mph to 0 mph, as does the other car. So, don't compare the smart to tests for anything more massive, because they are all simulating hitting something more massive than a smart.