Interesting video on EVs and roadway guardrails

[MountainAlive]

The summary is, today's guardrails were built for vehicles with a higher center of gravity (i.e. an engine block). But since EVs have the battery packs way down low, the guardrails simply can't stop them from smashing right through it. The Lightning wasn't mentioned in the video, but the Rivian pickup was, along with a Tesla model 3. So I'll just keep my lane centering turned on then

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[davehu]

I ran across this yesterday:The Real Reason Guardrails Can’t Stop EVs in a Crash

 

[CD4TNF]

On topic. This is a fascinating area of safety improvement. There's a guy who lost his daughter to unsafe guard rails. He constantly is advocating for improvements and identifying unsafely built guard rails.


https://youtube.com/@theguardrailguy


He recorded the actual lecture from University of Nebraska that the article is based on.




Here's the short part about the Rivian.





On a other related topic. On the other hand parking lot guard rails can save people. Saw this news report of a Lexus RZ450+ EV accelerate into some disabled people. Serious injuries.

The RZ was hanging in their air up against the rails and posts. I appreciate Canada news for keeping the story about a terrible vehicle crash.

I'm curious if it was unintended activation of adaptive cruise control.

 

[Heliian]

s were built for vehicles with a higher center of gravity

I would think it's the weight that is doing the most damage to the guardrails.

If you b line a Mack truck into the same guardrail it will go right through it too.

I agree that a more modern solution should be brought forward but I also think that people should take more responsibility for their driving skills.

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