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Can you imagine seven tenths of one second? You have obviously suffered the boredom of having to wait for something for an hour. Doubtless you have uttered the phrase 'just a minute', you have expressed dismay at the quick passing of a fifteen minute tea break. But can you appreciate seven tenths of a second?
Read that first paragraph again and see how long it will take. Ten seconds perhaps. Now read a factual account of how in seven tenths of a second a human being is hurled into eternity when their car, traveling at 55 miles an hour, crashes into a tree.
| 0 - 0.1 seconds | Front bumper and radiator grill collapse. Slivers of steel penetrate the tree to a depth of 1½ inches or more. |
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| 0.1 - 0.2 seconds | Car bonnet crumples, rises and smashes into windscreen. rear wheels spin and leave the ground. Radiator disintegrates. Wings make contact with tree forcing the rear of the wings out over the front doors. Heavy structural parts of the car begin to brake its terrific momentum. The driver continues to move at the original speed of 55 miles per hour. The driver's body now weighs 1½ tons. Legs ramrod straight, snap at the knee joints. |
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| 0.2 - 0.3 seconds | The driver's body is now off the seat, torso upright, broken knees press hard against dashboard. The steering wheel's plastic and steel frame bends under their terrific grip. Their head is now close to the sun visor, chest is above the steering column. |
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| 0.3 - 0.4 seconds | The first 24 inches of the car's length has been smashed and stopped, but the rear of the car is still traveling at 35 mile per hour, the driver's body is still travelling at 55 mile per hour. Weighty engine block crushes into the tree. Car's rear, rising like a bucking bronco, scrapes bark off low branches. |
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| 0.4 - 0.5 seconds | The drivers fear frozen hands bends steering column almost into the vertical position. Gravity forces the driver onto the steering column. Jagged steel punctures their lung and intercostal arteries. Blood spurts into their lungs. |
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| 0.5 - 0.6 seconds | The driver's feet are ripped from tightly laced shoes. Brake pedal shears off at the floor. Chassis bends, shearing body bolts. Their head smashes into windscreen surround. The car's rear begins to fall. |
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| 0.6 - 0.7 seconds | The car is shapeless, hinges torn, doors spring open. The seat rams forward pinning the driver against the hard cruel steel of the steering column. Blood leaps from their mouth. Shock freezes their heart. The driver is dead. |
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In only seven tenths of a second. Read it again, it's not a fairy tale. This could happen to any one of us. You can almost feel now the distressing pain of those left behind to mourn. |
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This was written in the days before Airbags and other engineering marvels of today but, at 55mph, we doubt they will make much difference!
site last updated March 2006
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