Moose and Driving

* This blog entry contains pictures of graphic destruction. 

So this is the result of a full on collision with a moose. I was the driver and walked away with a couple of scratches. I think I'm pretty lucky to be alive. Nevermind how lucky I am to be uninjured (which I consider more astonishing). My dad of course thinks "someone" must be looking out for me. 

What I would like to share is that when you are driving at night, unless you have the virtue of driving with high beams on at all times, moose are nearly impossible to spot. This moose was standing in the middle of the road, and I didn't see it until it was only 15 metres in front of me. I was driving about 85KPH, I may have managed to get my foot on the brake before impact, but I doubt it. I do remember hearing the tire screech. I don't know how long it took me to decide to get out of the car. 

A friend on Facebook commented that "I can only assume your grandma-like driving practices saved you this time." I agree. I'd hazard to guess that had my speed been much higher, the scratch on my head could have been much worse. 

I am continually amazed at the speed of which people pass me at night. The news is full of reports of injury and death every WEEK. Newfoundland is averaging 2 moose-vehicle collisions PER DAY. 

In the day, I drive 110KPH. At night, especially when I have to lower my lights, 80 is my new speed. Even lower if its foggy or raining. Anything else is putting yourself at unnecessary risk. And for what, a getting there a few minutes earlier?

FYI: The police came by and shot the moose. I broke its legs and it couldn't get up. Probably fine otherwise...

A Driving Lesson. Today's Topic: Speed and Kinetic Energy

This lesson is inspired by the recent accident that claimed the life of an 18 year old girl who was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a 23 year old male who walked away with minor injuries. It seems people don't fully appreciate the responsibility they carry when they are driving with passengers. A driver literally has lives in his hands when he/she has passengers. That boy now has to carry the guilt of being responsible for the death of his friend.

Here is the principal lesson I wish to convey: The amount of kinetic energy your vehicle has is not linearly proportional to your speed, it is in fact exponential. It follows this equation: KE = 1/2 * mass * velocity squared. Still not following? That's ok. I'll show you how it works.

Say for example you are driving along in your medium sized car at 85 KPH. That would give you a kinetic energy of 334 kj (kilojoules). The same car going just 35 KPH fast, 120 KPH has 667 kj of energy. That's almost DOUBLE. Double the kinetic energy for only a 35 KPH speed increase. If you have a problem with these numbers, take it up with Newton. He figured it out a few hundred years ago and we ended up sending people to the moon using it.

So if you think that hitting a moose at 120 KPH is no different than 85 KPH, well you are dead wrong (or maybe your passenger is).

Story Here.