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Myth or fact: big
heavy cars are safer, or are they? It
is a myth that heavy solid vehicles, such as SUVs, are safer.
In fact, the occupant of an SUV that is struck at equal speeds with a
smaller vehicle suffers more post-traumatic syndrome than the person’s car
that collapses. People believe
that they are safer in heavy solid cars; however, the inertia of that type
of automobile, on impact, allows the occupant to absorb the rundown.
For example, this means that in a minor 10 m.p.h. rear end collision,
the target crash vehicle upon impact can throw as much as 10 g’s of force
in less than 3 milliseconds to the accelerate of that person’s head and
neck. In comparison, the crew
of the space shuttle encounters 6 g’s over multiple minutes per launch.
I was attending a seminar in California at the Spine
Research Institute of San Diego. I
listened to Dr. David Viano and Mr. Brian O’Neil, of the Highway Insurance
Institute of Safety (HIIS) and frequent guest of Dateline NBC and 60
Minutes. We discussed why rigid
automobiles are being constructed. It
is a matter in economics. There
is more money to be produced in rigid cars.
A research engineer for GM went public with an idea to improve GM’s
safety. The bottom line was
that this engineer was no longer needed in GM’s company.
Saab immediately hired him and, maybe in their new 2007 automobiles,
there will be an ingenious seat included, nicknamed the “Catcher’s
Mitt.”
As with rigid seat backs, this seat has a perimeter
support laced with inertia fabrics. During
an impact that accelerates the vehicle faster forward, this seat actually
catches the body. The body
collapses and is absorbed quickly to prevent the head and neck from the
“ramping effect,” which is the stretch of the human spine and is its
weakest point. It is believed
these seats will cost an average of $700 to $900 per seat.
Obviously, in the long run, it will decrease percentages of injury or
permanencies of injury and with fewer traumas.
Less severe trauma will be more effectively treatable.
What it boils down to is that the money saved
short term just increases what will need to be paid in the long term.
Volvo and Saab are the two companies, as it appears today, to
manufacture the safest automobiles. SUVs are most at risk for a high rate of injury.
At low speeds, we are insisting on making frames more rigid and less
absorbent.
I hope this news brief finds that you have had a
very Merry Christmas.
Chiropractically
Yours,
Robert
R. Zinser, D.C., C.C.S.P., P.C.
www.zinserchiropractic.com
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