Hacker News Reader

> These vehicles rarely make it above 40mph

That speed is quite deadly with zero crumple zone.

No. It's really not. Unless you're a frail elderly person (not the post office's hiring pool, this should go without saying). If you're wearing a seat-belt that's an "I'm sore the next day" speed.

If you're not wearing a seat belt then you're going through the windshield and it doesn't matter how the vehicle is equipped.

Yes, it actually is. Modern crumple zones on US market passenger cars are designed for 40mph crashes. The IIHS performs crash tests at speeds faster than any other crash worthiness program on the planet: 40mph. Every (routine) crash test video you've ever seen was at 40mph or less.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com