30 mph Head-on Crash Test
Conducted at Texas A&M during an accident reconstruction conference, this collision pits a van in a partial overlap head-on against a very large pickup truck. When two vehicles collide, a quantity known as a "closing speed" is sometimes discussed. In this collision, each vehicle was moving toward the other at 30 mph, producing a total closing speed of (30+30=) 60 mph.

Each vehicle was moving forward at "only" 30 mph. 30 mph doesn't seem very fast, but look at what can happen...

60 mph Head-on Crash Test Video, Slow Motion
This collision was also conducted at Texas A&M with two vehicles identical to the ones used in the 30 mph crash test, but here only the van was moving - at 60 mph. The pickup truck was stationary. The total closing speed of 60 mph in this partial overlap head-on crash (60+0=60 mph), though, was the same as that in the 30 mph test test. Would the results be similar?

34 mph Motorcycle Crash Into A Parked Car Video, Real Time & Slow Motion
This collision was also conducted at Texas A&M, and shows a Harley Davidson motorcycle rear-ending a sedan at 34 mph.

The Texas A&M videos on this page were produced by WREX2000 and have been copied with permission.

Crash Photos
A slide show of crash photos taken over the years.

Physics + SUVs = DOA
The physics of being an SUV ain't pretty. This type of passenger vehicle is an accident waiting to happen, and is not nearly as safe as the public has been lead to believe. For another study, click here.

The four headlines at left were collected from one newspaper in less than a week.

Cell Phones and Driving
Research shows that talking on the cell phone decreases drivers' awareness of their surroundings and increases their response times. And it doesn't matter if they're wearing a headset or not. In fact, researchers have proven that eye movement slows down dramatically when a person is engaged in a deep conversation on a cell phone; in normal conditions a driver's eyes are constantly moving about, checking out surroundings. During cell phone talking the driver tends to fixate on an object, like the roadway or the bumper of the car in front.

Bottom line: cellphone use is a major driver distraction which increases the risk of being in a collision.

Car Talk
The website of Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka Clik and Clak.  Mostly humorous auto ailment advice, but also includes a decent search engine for crash reports and other safety matters.

What days and months are the most dangerous to drive?
What day of the year is the most dangerous to drive? No, it's not New Year's Eve. An interesting report on when it's most dangerous to be on the road.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Probably the best site on the web for vehicular safety issues for both accident reconstructionists and the general public.

Florida Traffic Crash Report
The latest report available on traffic crashes in Florida.

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