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From: jb760@uofm-cv.UUCP (Jim Beyer)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Small cars in collisions
Message-ID: <552@uofm-cv.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Apr-84 03:29:34 EST
Article-I.D.: uofm-cv.552
Posted: Fri Apr 20 03:29:34 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Apr-84 00:34:37 EST
References: <395@hou2h.UUCP> opus.376
Lines: 18


I think the question is a bit more complicated than that. Bouncing
can occur, depending on the collision.  Note that while many
accidents occur during the winter, few serious ones occur because
icy roads cause cars to BOUNCE about more, and generally off the
roads and into snow banks.  And I remember from Driver's Ed that
if youing are running off the road and out of control, to try to
run over small bushes, etc. to slow yourself down, instead of
headlonging into trees.  This is the relevant point. Bouncing is
fine if the collision is not headlong (defined I believe, by
colliding with something 4 inches or more into your bumper).
If you have a head-on, then you only 'bounce' backward, which
tends to damage occupants.

The bottom line is yes, small cars bounce okay on non head-on
collisions, but the collisions to be concerned about are head-ons,
and in that case, I want is much engine between me and the object
as possible, i.e. a BIG car.