Do you know how your car saves your life? Part 2

Alright guys, I’m sad to see no one came out swinging with some guesses, but there will be more mini quizzes to come.

So my question to all of you was, do you know the difference between “Collision Energy Management” and “Collision Transfer Management”? These terms seem very similar, but in reality, describe to very different effects.

Collision Energy Management describes how a vehicle absorbs energy in the event of a collision. Through the design of different steel, collapse zones, kick up areas, crush holes, and built in kink spots. This allows for the blunt force of the collision to dissipate before reaching the occupant compartment.

Collision Transfer Management describes the ability of the vehicle to transfer the energy throughout the vehicle, and around the occupant compartment. This is possible by constructing unisides out of dual phase steel and boron steel. The energy from a frontal impact is absorbed and transferred through the frame rails up the A-pillars, down through the rocker panels, and around the occupant compartment. It is not uncommon to see kinks in the sail panel of vehicles in a heavy front hit. Also I have seen kinks in the A-pillars in a heavy rear end hit.

Every one knows the common “well my tail light worked before the accident” bit, especially when the collision was in the front of the vehicle. But in this day and age, with all the new forms of energy management and transfer, a tail light burning out is very feasible. The energy from a frontal impact will transfer throughout the vehicle and possible affect the tail lights and bulbs.

I have included two links of videos. I would like everyone to watch them and comment back on your thoughts. They demonstrate two very different vehicles constructions. It will make you think twice about how your car should and could save your life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB0araA0T_k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBzbpiuiA30