I think the report of hitting the wall at 180 should be restated. It's clear from the rivetting news shots that he has forward velocity of 180 [?] but the effective speed of hitting the wall was considerably less, and that's clear in the video as it looks more like a grazing shot, though clearly dramatic. Without the restraints working for you, you're totally vulnerable. I've only had one tramatic accident, wherein I hit a steel baricade (meridian) at about 55 after falling asleep at the wheel. I had only the seatbelt in my '87 Honda Accord and was nearly unfazed. Just had a major bruise on my chest, three days later, and a goose egg on my knee. The simple seatbelt completely saved my life AND face. (I had 2-3 second day-time "micro-nightmares" for a year after, but that's another story.) -Steve Grube
Jordan Hayes wrote:
>
> > He chose not to wear his head-restraint cable.
>
> It's not at all clear that there's much anything could do to help
> save you if you hit a concrete wall in a 3500lb automobile at
> 180mph. Ask anyone who has driven these cars (like me, if you
> don't know anyone else): go flip floping head over tail down a
> straightaway in a fireball and you'll just have to hold on and wait
> for your momentum to bleed and for the ride to stop; your rollcage
> will save you.
>
> But if you hit the wall head on at speed: you won't walk away easily.
>
> /jordan