Tesla footage of braking before crash ahead [video]

Post by mjolk » Wed, Dec 28, 2016, 2:29 PM UTC

euroclydon wrote: post #80

pmontra wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

SUVs are not as stable as cars with a lower height. Think about the typical race car which is designed for turning fast, something that requires stability: light, low and wide. SUVs? Heavy, high and narrow relative to their height. Electronics can do marvels, but with the same electronics physics wins. I remember I could easily outperform a couple of BMW SUVs on a highway in a descent from a mountain pass. They had p…

I came down I-70 into Denver one time in a rented Ford Expedition. Wasn't going that fast, but when I hit the first curve, the body and frame started to really lean onto the outside suspension. I was scared to hit the brakes and cause it to pitch more, so I just barely touched them and had to let it drift into the next lane a bit. The turn went on forever!! Did I mention I was surrounded by motorcycles?

Post by mjolk » Wed, Dec 28, 2016, 2:33 PM UTC

brohoolio wrote: post #147

verbify wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quite often they're a fashion statement more than anything else.

Transporting a family takes room. Rear facing car seats don't necessarily fit into smaller cars.

Post by agumonkey » Wed, Dec 28, 2016, 2:37 PM UTC

gingerlime wrote: post #105

sytelus wrote: post #67

This is great video to study on many levels beyond self-driving car. Some observations: * The car behind didn't show turn signal so probably driver wasn't paying attention. * A small car escaping with not too much damage while SUV rolls over many times * From physics point of view, the car behind produced almost perfect torque that started horizontal spin on SUV * Collisions with barrier at high speed can produce lot…

I'm feeling rather dumb, but can't really intuitively understand the physics here. I see a small car hitting a pretty huge one and yet spins the huge one several times. I always thought those bigger cars are safer / stronger / more resistant to hits? Is it purely because it hit it at the corner, so all the force went into the "spinning axis"? (did I say I feel dumb?)

Post by heptathorp » Wed, Dec 28, 2016, 2:38 PM UTC

enraged_camel wrote: post #54

ClassyJacket wrote: post #20

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I wish more people followed at a safe distance.

I've actually found a really good solution to tailgaters: put very slight pressure on your brake pedal, enough to get the brake lights on, but not enough to actually cause any substantial deceleration. This will cause the tailgater to also slow down, but more than you because they have no way of telling how hard you are braking. The result is increased distance between you and them. Do that a few times and even the m…

Post by spraak » Wed, Dec 28, 2016, 2:53 PM UTC

Doman wrote: post #92

tempestn wrote: post #3

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I expect an autopilot could deal with that situation much better than a human as well. It should be able to predict if the car behind won't stop. Certainly better than a human driver could (if the human would even notice the car coming from behind with that happening in front). Then, assuming there is some space open in front, as there was in this case, it could accelerate to avoid the collision from behind. Now I'm…

They are already programmed to avoid being smashed from behind. Watch these two cases [0:47, 1:54] https://youtu.be/JwknRVjUBCg?t=47 https://youtu.be/JwknRVjUBCg?t=114