Andy's Blog
There are two things about me that I think most of you know: 1.) I have a bit of a lead foot, and 2.) I love NASCAR racing. And even though those might sound mutually inclusive, most of the people I know who actually like NASCAR give me the most amount of crap for my speeding.
Now, one could argue that going around and around at 200 mph, sometimes inches from each other, is pretty dangerous. But most NASCAR drivers would say most the time they feel pretty safe. But the one time you'll get them to complain about safety is restrictor plate racing.
Now stay with me...
The long and the short of it is in restrictor plate races, a device is put on a car to ensure that there is a limit to the maximum speed a car drives (in theory lowering the speed). The controversy is that these races become inherently more dangerous because while the speeds are slightly lower, the packs that are created due to everyone driving the exact same speed is harrowing. For example, at Talladegga, at times they are only 1 SECOND that separates all 43 cars (at 200 MPH!).
Now hopefully you are still with me...
What does this have to do with real life? I have been saying it for years: zones where enforced speed limits are in place are some of the scariest places on highways. What you get is everyone driving the exact same speed, and a build of cars. And really, speed isn't what kills you in an accident, running into something kills you.
But don't just take my word for it. Psychics proves my point as well. According to PhysicsCentral: "jerks" actually help reduce traffic jams because they add a variable that reduces bunching. It is true with pedestrians, it is true with cars, it is true with molecules.
Even the end of the article supports what I am saying. I insist that part of the reason I speed is because I am claustrophobic and I don't like to feel trapped. I am less likely to be tailgated when speeding. I am less likely to tailgate when speeding. And people are less likely to be to my right or left when speeding. Thus, I am not trapped, I am not claustrophobic, and I am less likely to run into someone or having someone run into me.
So my conclusion is that people should drive the speed they are comfortable with and leave the restrictor plate conditions to NASCAR (and apparently DoT Utah also, psuedo-supports this idea as well).
And next time you are with me in my car afraid for your life, all you need to say is thank you.
Simple physics. I always knew I liked you.
P.S. I am aware of the irony that physics would also support the idea that IF I hit something, increased speed would not be my friend. But that is an ironic double standard I am willing to live with.
Force is equal to mass times the change in velocity divided by the time it takes to change that velocity, so really its the quickness of the change in speed that kills you.
80 mph = about 36 m/s. If it takes your body .1 seconds to slow to a stop (a pretty normal time lapse if you are wearing a seat belt and there is an air bag) This means your body is experiencing a negative acceleration of about 360m/s/s or the equivalent of 36 times the force of gravity
FYI at about 30g (1g is about 10m/s/s) is enough force to cause your ascending aorta to separate from your heart and causes the long cavities to fill with "fluid". But usually there is tramatic brain injury that is involved so theres no worry of a slow death.
-A guy who drives 65, physics teacher and EMT
Adam, this calculation presupposes that he would crash into the obstacle at 80 mph without decalerating beforehand (i.e. without applying brakes) and that the obstacle is quite rigid and unmovable (decelerating from 36 m/s in 0.1 s only allows for a braking distance of 1.8 m or 5'11"), like a bridge abutment but certainly not like another car or a guardrail.
So it is a scenario that is very unlikely to occur. You also have to consider that 36 g decelerations are not necessarily fatal if they last only a short time (and 0.1s is a very short time).
Another thing is that speed limits are laughably low in the US. 70 mph limit on the open dead-straight interstate highways? Laughable! Other countries like Germany have much more sensible speed limits (including no speed limit on many stretches of their highways (called Autobahns)) and significatly lower highway fatality rates.
Too strict speed limits kill!
So...2 out of 3 of those disqualify you then :)
I don't know who you are, but welcome to the blog. It's always nice to have someone who agrees
I was thinking the same thing. Sure. A full, head on collision into a inmovable object is going to be bad at 80 MPH. But then again, it is going to be bad at 65 MPH too. Most accidents I am worried about are in the "side swiping" or tailgate variety.
I always say me being half German explains my driving behavior. I also say that me being half Swedish explains my love for skinny, blonde women with no boobs.
THANK you! Most Americans find it "amazing" that the Autobahn has lower death rates than the US highways. Frankly, it all makes sense to me.
I don't think you can blame your Swedish ancestry for the "no boobs" preference.
In the sense of full disclosure I also must add that Germany has a lot tougher and more comprehensive driving test (as well as compulsory driving school) than in the US, especially Georgia which is a sick joke in comparison.
Ahhh the motherland. Most of those girls aren't all that big breasted, so I think you proved my point :)
Ohh tell me about it. See the Germans actually THINK about driving, that's why they are good at it. They don't just mindlessly follow the rules and assume safety. Safety is the driver's responsibility, not the law/government/other drivers responsibility. They also have strict (and smart) laws on the autobahn (like you can't pass on the right / a slower driver must get over for a faster driver).
But again, all this proves our point. It isn't speed that is the danger, it is other drivers that are the danger. And I'll take a fast, smart driver, over a slow, mindless driver any day.
They look to be C cups. Not huge but certainly anything but flat chested. Am I mistaken that they are way too well endowed for you? (and if you don't want them I'd take them)
I agree.