[TheForge] OT - The science of driving.

Tue Jan 20 15:54:00 2004

As someone who gets to reconstruct the negative effects of the lack of 
physics education on the commuting public, I can say that I would love to 
see a book like this. Unfortunately I must say that it will take a far 
better writing style than mine to make the subject of Critical Curve Speed, 
Minimum Stopping Distances, Coefficient of Frictions, etc. something other 
than a good substitute from Sominex.

I loved it when I realized that the 1 car length per 10 mph rule was based 
on the idea that we travel nearly 15 feet per second every 10 mph we go 
(1.466 fps = 1 mph). Unfortunately I'm a twisted math weenie who likes odd 
stuff like that.

If you decide to go ahead with this, please let me know. I'll be glad to help.

Aaron Silver

At 08:47 AM 1/20/2004, you wrote:
>I know this is way off topic, but I also know there are folks here who 
>could contribute to this idea...
>
>On the way to work this AM, I noticed how stupid some drivers seem.  Then 
>I got to wondering about it and decided that maybe they just don't KNOW 
>any better.  It occurred to me that drivers are required to learn the laws 
>before getting a licence, and the manuals they study to do so may discuss 
>braking distance and so forth, but the manuals never go into the physical 
>principals involved.
>
>So here's a proposal:  Write a manual of the science of driving.  Include 
>all topics from physics, etc., that would aid a driver understand why he 
>should or should not behave in such and such a manner.  Make the science 
>rigorous, but nonmathematical.  Give some numeric examples, where 
>appropriate, but let it go at that.  The manual should be easy reading, 
>along the lines of a Reader's Digest article (but longer).  A child should 
>be able to understand it * 5th grade reading level.
>
>What I would envision is to put together a little booklet, comparable in 
>size to a typical state's driver's manual.  Get the thing endorsed by the 
>National Traffic Safety Council, and other relevant groups.  Get one or 
>more states to agree at least to pass out the booklet, or, preferably, to 
>add one or two questions to their drivers test that could be learned from 
>the material in the booklet.   Find corporate or other sponsors to cover 
>printing costs for a first (LARGE) run of copies.  Do a test distribution 
>in one or more states.
>
>Topics I see as relevant:
>
> From physics:
>Static versus dynamic friction (relevant to: brakes, braking, tires, 
>skids, acceleration)
>Newton's first law (relevant to: cornering, skids)
>Mass, Inertia, kinetic energy, momemtum (relevant to: acceleration, 
>braking, collisions, driving behavior of large and small vehicles)
>Force and impact force (relevant to: seat belts, collisions, injuries from 
>collisions)
>
> From chemistry and materials sciences:
>Deformation of elastomers (relevant to: tires, friction, braking)
>Phases of matter (relevant to: water & ice, winter driving, effect of salt 
>and sand)
>
> From physiology:
>Human reaction time (relevant to: braking, following distance)
>Human attention and distraction (relevant to: distractions vs. background 
>entertainment in the car)
>Human blind spot (relevant to: blind spots, collision avoidance)
>A minimal discussion of human anatomy (relevant to: seat belts, injuries 
>in collisions with and without seat belts)
>
>Reactions?  Interest?
>
>Bruce
>NJ
>
>
>
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