30 November 2011

What a 120mph Crash-Test Looks Like

Occupants experience "up to 400 g"


As you are likely aware, our own NHTSA test-crashes all new cars for sale in the US at speeds up to 40 mph- as do EU authorities and a few others. 

One day the folks at English television show Fifth Gear (not 
to be confused with Jeremy Clarkson's unparelled Top Gear) wondered over tea what would happen if they had some crash-test pros set up the cement barrier and run a Ford Focus into it at 120 mph... triple normal testing speeds.
120mph crash test
So they did it... and this is what happens: 120mph crash test


  • Car decelerates from 120-0 in .068 seconds
  • Occupants experience up to 400 g on impact
  • "-absolutely no survival space at all."

Buh-bye dummies: