SafeSpeed wrote:
Even a wall will usually be better than hitting an oncoming vehicle.
My bold
Homer wrote:
...
Even if it's a drystone wall, you can't say for certain it will give way, it may be backed by earth, the ground level behind could be higher. Another vehicle will have crumple zones and will probably be as forgiving as a wall, even though it will be moving. Modern cars are designed with collisions with other cars in mind, not solid objects.
In this particular instance, any collision witrh the oncoming vehicle could have sent the back end of it into the cyclist, causing death of the innocent party.
Homer wrote:
By swerving to the side you are presenting the weakest part of your vehicle to the oncoming vehicle, if you don't make it and the other vehicle collides with the side of your car you and other occupants of your vehicle are more likely to suffer serious injuries. If you are going to hit something then hitting head on at speed is preferable to being T-boned.
My bold.
The angle would be extremely acute. Energy in the direction of the car would be minimal. Also, we have to assume that the oncoming car will swerve back toward his side if any, making the angle even more acute. Hardly t-bone.
Homer wrote:
You are moving off the road where there will be undeterminable levels of grip and possibly a ditch which could bring you to a dead halt with your rear passengers right in the path of the oncoming vehicle. Depending on your speed you may even roll the vehicle and wind up back on the road in exactly the position you did not want to be.
My bold.
The rear will possibly jump back toward the road, and yes your vehicle may roll. However, time your offroading such that you do so at the last moment and you should miss the vehicle coming at you (with a net double speed) while you're offroad.
Homer wrote:
If the other vehicle is unscathed there is a good chance he will simply drive on.
True. So what? You saved the cyclist's life.
Homer wrote:
He may have the unjustified opinion that you driving into a wall is your accident and nothing to do with him. If you are lucky you'll get his reg. no. More likely he will be gone round the next bend before your airbag deflates. This may be an acceptable outcome if it is avoiding personal injury but I would much rather give the other driver reason to stop and exchange details.
I would at alll costs avoid a double speed impact and choose a glance along a wall or take my chances off road. The exception is a tree/lamp post/telegraph pole. All these are point source impacts and even more dangerous than a double speed head on.
Homer wrote:
You are deliberately damaging a 4th party's property (the wall).
The lesser of the evils.
Homer wrote:
I would.....
1. Move over but keep on the tarmac to keep control of the vehicle.
2. Brake, hard.
I would too - but if I then judged that, despite this, a fast vehicle coming toward me would either hit me or an innocent cyclist or pedestrian, I'd
usually take my chance off road.