• @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    4414 hours ago

    Why do little cars have to withstand a collision with a huge truck but trucks just get bigger and bigger? The new Hummer is over 9,000lbs (4,090 kg)

    • NoSpiritAnimal
      link
      fedilink
      1913 hours ago

      At 60 MPH the Hummer EV has the same kinetic energy as a 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback going 120mph.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      511 hours ago

      Regardless of truck size, I don’t think tractor trailers are going anywhere. Even if we made trucks smaller those would still be out there

      Smaller trucks would still get in accidents though, and I imagine they would be less deadly

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        157 hours ago

        Man, if only we could separate freight from commuter traffic. Like, imagine if all those tractor trailers were on their own separate road, but make it out of, IDK, metal or something so it can withstand the weight better. You could even just have metal right under the wheels, to reduce costs. But what do I know, I’m just some pie in the sky nobody who doesn’t know what he’s talking about

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        98 hours ago

        Tractor trailers are heavily regulated with training, licensing, driving hours and sleep break logging etc. Are they really a significant source of pedestrian collisions?

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          16 hours ago

          You should check out the safety stuff with them and cars. You’ll stay near one on the road again.

      • SaltySalamander
        link
        fedilink
        011 hours ago

        Even if we made trucks smaller those would still be out there

        If we made them smaller there’d just be more of them on the road. There’d also be higher prices for everything to compensate for the extra expense of having those extra trucks and bodies to pilot them.

      • Jojo, Lady of the West
        link
        fedilink
        610 hours ago

        I mean they’re getting heavier, but not, like, whole number multiples heavier. An electric might be some 60% heavier than a comparable gas car. But the aforementioned hummer is more than 5 times heavier than even a heavy electric “utility vehicle”. That’s more than 400% heavier.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          32 hours ago

          Huh? Are you saying heavy electric utility vehicles are less than 2k lbs? I think you’re math is a bit off, or I’m misunderstanding you. 9k lbs is heavy but it’s only around 2k lbs heavier than it’s gas counter parts (most SUVs are around 6.5-7k lbs). Most electric cars are 1-2k lbs heavier than their gas counterparts already. Batteries are not light.