Quote:
Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
To restate what Matt said, more or less -- yes the inattentive/distracted driver is a key element of an accident, and probably the most common cause... but the likelihood of there being an accident, especially a serious accident, increases with delta V.
I'm zipping down the highway at 85 mph, and dfbroad, doing 80 mph drifts into my lane while using rearview mirror to apply fake eyelashes.
vs.
I'm zipping down the highway at 75 mph, and dfbroad, doing 50 mph drifts into my lane while using rearview mirror to apply fake eyelashes.
75 mph is "safer" than 85, no? And as long as dfbroad is dolling herself up, it's "safer" for her to do so at 50 than at 80, no?
But, the latter fact pattern is likelier to end catastrophically, no?
Delta Speed Kills.
JP
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True, but speed itself kills, too.
If you get into a collision in your car with someone going half your speed, you will be fine if your speed is 5 mph. If you are going 120 mph in that same collision, you are likely going to die.
Same if you want to use an absolute number as the delta, say 25 mph. A 50 mph car v. 25 mph car is not going to be as damaging as a 125 mph car v. 100 mph car in the same collision.