🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <790a28$n2e$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
Mark Orton  <markorton@my-dejanews.com> wrote:

}A head-on collision where both cars are moving at 40 mph has the same effect
}(on the occupants of the cars) as hitting a parked car at 80 mph.  However,
}it does *not* have the same effect as hitting an immovable object at 80 mph. 
}It has the same effect as hitting an immovable object at 40 mph.
}
}A large tree, rooted firmly in the earth, is effectively an immovable object.
}So if you have your choice of hitting a tree or hitting an oncoming car, it
}makes no difference as far as your own survival is concerned.

I'd hazard a guess that hitting the tree is worse, as the impact is
more concentrated -- hitting an object in such a way that the impact
is distributed across the whole frontal area of the car probably
results in less chance of intrusion into the passenger compartment
than an impact that is concentrated on a foot or two.
-- 
Matthew T. Russotto                                russotto@pond.com
"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in pursuit
of justice is no virtue."