Re: Broadsiding

[Alexei M Voloshin <Alexei.M.Voloshin-1@tc.umn.edu>]

On Sun, 11 Aug 1996 Jay@aol.com wrote:

> OK, I may be an idiot about cars AND physics, but:
> 
> If you're going 60 mph, and you broadside the Jersey barrier, wouldn't you be
> impacting it at a speed of MUCH less than 60 mph?  I mean, you're not going
> 60 mph *sideways*, right?  
> 
> Jay Levitt
> 96 A4Q (250 miles, blue exterior, glass interior)
> 
Actually I hit the beginning of a long barrier island. So I may have 
slowed down a little (give or take 5-10MPH), but it was pretty 
"spectacular". My roof was deformed into a semicircle. My door was up 
against my seat, but the spekers still worked and the engine ran. (the 
engine comartment was intact) Good thing I had windows open - otherwise I 
would have had serious glass for dinner!
The first thing when I got out, I saw a dozen people running to me 
yelling to passing vehicles to call ambulance. They told me that it was 
bad enough for them to think I was dead. Oh well, I got lucky. (by 
driving an Audi that is)

Alex