I remember one time when I was driving through the plains a semi was in the opposite lane coming in his lane. I came over the top of the hill and saw him and saw a business truck in my lane trying to pass the semi. The truck swung out and went into a large gentile ditch and I hugged the inside of my lane close to the semi. The guy in the truck kept on speeding and ran back onto the highway and kept going. I thought he was crazy because the truck bouncing up and down in the ditch and from what I could see he did not stop to check his truck for damage.
In the distance you see coming down the centre of a straight road towards you is another car, what do you choose to do?
- Thread starter grahamg
- Start date
I would blast the horn also and pull over as far to the right as I could.
Tish
SF VIP
- Location
- Rural N.S.W. Australia
I would pull over.
Two cars going 40 mph without and deceleration would be the same as one car going 80 mph and hitting a solid concrete wall. The energy and force of the crash would equal around 73,000 pounds of force. That's enough energy and force to totally destroy the occupants. This is calculated using the formula; force x energy. Thanks to Newton, he came up with this formula. If you have a scientific calculator, you can do the math.Oh, he was only going about 5mph, (no, really about thirty or forty mph, so not ultra fast by any means, "that would be reckless" gettin in the way of someone doing a ton or summat!).
Am I being serious, well yes, "it did occur an awl"!
I was half the age I am now, so doubt I'd repeat the exercise if I was confronted with the same scenario these days, (but best to keep folks guessing if you won't to keep folks guessing!?).
I'd be too worried about what to put on the insurance claim if there had been a collision, if we'd survived and impact, (which I'm assuming I would, as it wasn't a station wagon, or truck heading my way or anything!).
We can use the pulse width and employ Newton's 2nd law of motion, F=ma to calculate the expected impact force. Using the final velocity calculated from the conversation of energy Equation 1, v = √2gh, we may compute the resulting impact acceleration.
Like I said previously, you have two choices, move out of the way or die.
There is a law in physics that states "two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time."
Em in Ohio
Senior Member
- Location
- OH HI OH
I had to admit, I guessed at the meaning of "barrow pit." Up north, we just call them drainage ditches.
what's a barrow pit?
grahamg
Old codger
- Location
- South of Manchester, UK
Are you assuming the two cars wouldn't have chosen to brake, (maybe in time to come to a screeching halt, Dukes of Hazard style!)?
Then a field on either side of the road, (avoiding trees, telegraph poles etc.), might have seemed more appealing than a head on at almost any speed, (assuming both don't swerve into same field at same time of course!).
There you are "think psychology", think "self preservation" before worrying too much about physics,.
btw have you avoided as many accidents as I've somehow managed to do to date, in spite of reckless streak, (and fathers over assertive advice!)?
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That is exactly what happened to me 45 years ago.
I was headed to my girlfriend's house at night & a car was speeding towards me head-on (in my lane, going the wrong way). He was going at least 70 mph on a city street where the speed limit was 35. I swerved to the right & he hit my left rear quarter panel. The street was wet from recent rain & he spun me around 3 or 4 times. A few seconds later, I heard a loud crash.
Police & paramedics showed up. An officer asked me if I was hurt. I said, "No."
I asked him "What was that crash I heard after he hit me?"
He said, "The guy is intoxicated & he was speeding away from another hit & run when he hit you. The crash you heard was him hitting another car broadside, killing two people in the front seat & a young lady in the back seat was hurt bad; her leg is gone."
Guess I shouldn't have asked..........
I was headed to my girlfriend's house at night & a car was speeding towards me head-on (in my lane, going the wrong way). He was going at least 70 mph on a city street where the speed limit was 35. I swerved to the right & he hit my left rear quarter panel. The street was wet from recent rain & he spun me around 3 or 4 times. A few seconds later, I heard a loud crash.
Police & paramedics showed up. An officer asked me if I was hurt. I said, "No."
I asked him "What was that crash I heard after he hit me?"
He said, "The guy is intoxicated & he was speeding away from another hit & run when he hit you. The crash you heard was him hitting another car broadside, killing two people in the front seat & a young lady in the back seat was hurt bad; her leg is gone."
Guess I shouldn't have asked..........
grahamg
Old codger
- Location
- South of Manchester, UK
Makes my story sound truly silly and trivial in comparison!
Ya know, I sometimes get nasty reactions when I say what should happen to drunk drivers. I have my reasons.Makes my story sound truly silly and trivial in comparison!
Lara
Friend of the Arts
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic Coast
Turn on your Brights..."Gun It" to miss him (notice I said"him" lol)...Report it to 911
Leann
Traveler
I live in a rural area where most of the roads are one lane in each direction, no sidewalks, no shoulders and no street lights. Also, there are often drainage ditches on the side of the road so if you veer off you'll have a drop of several feet. I can only assume (and pray it never happens) that I would pull as tightly to the right as possible, lay on the horn and flash the headlights or emergency lights. And if I had the presence of mind, I'd dial 911 immediately.
Don M.
SF VIP
- Location
- central Missouri
We're the same....2 lane roads with no "escape". I try to watch the oncoming traffic as far as possible, and if I see a vehicle weaving around or straddling the center line, I quickly look for a driveway or gentle slope to pull onto, if necessary. Plus, I begin flashing my lights which often gets their attention. In the Vast majority of cases, these drivers seem to be playing with their cell phones. If I ever get hit by one of these clowns, and survive, I'm going to hire a lawyer, have him get their phone records, and if they were on the phone I will sue them for every penny they are worth.
Not sure I understand the question, but no worries. What I calculated was that two automobiles going 40 mph with no foot on the brake or no diversion in the path. Nothing impeded the path of the autos. I have flown at well over 500 mph. Can you imagine if I struck another plane head on going the same speed. There would be complete destruction of all matter.
Flarbalard
Senior Member
I remember this being covered in driver's ED. We were supposed to slow down, flash the head lights, and honk the horn. We were also advised to stay in our own lane if you couldn't pull off in case the other driver was asleep and woke up at the last minute.
I'm just so happy I ordered the narrow road option package on my car
I'm just so happy I ordered the narrow road option package on my car
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oldpop
Member
- Location
- Inner Space
I would activate the D.E.W mounted in the grill of my pick-up and vaporize the sucker. NOT... actually I would slow down to have some maneuverability and pull as close to my shoulder of the road as possible.
helenbacque
Senior Member
- Location
- Central Florida
In my younger days I frequently drove the old 7 Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys - narrow two lane with NO shoulder. This scenario was one of my biggest fears when any of the family was on the road. We were advised to take foot off brake to provide least amount of resistance.