First Tesla Cybertruck Crash Kills Driver In Baytown Area, Electric Pick-up Bursts Into Flames
ibtimes.co.uk
A Tesla Cybertruck driver was killed in what appears to be the first reported fatal crash involving the electric pickup truck, which has yet to undergo third-party crash testing.
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Unfortunately the materials really matters with pedestrian motor vehicle accidents. When I first started working in orthopedics and rehabilitation, metal fenders and bumpers were still regularly on the roads and causing very specific injuries.
When a metal bumper hits you, it doesn't just cause blunt force trauma, it tends to shear muscle away from the bone. There was a specific ankle foot orthosis that was widely produced up until the early 2000s that was meant to replace calf muscles that were scooped off by metal bumpers.
This truck is basically a giant flying wedge of stainless steel, I don't see any pedestrian walking away from an accident with this monstrosity.
Any thoughts on how the plastic bumper at the bottom might impact that? Do you think that might make any difference at all? You're still going to hit the metal parts regardless, but that initial impact might be plastic, (edit: and then start the forces of throwing you onto the hood)
I really wanna see a 3rd party agency test this so we can finally get some answers, but with the lower front/angle, but the metal/front edge, it might even turn out to be a less fatalities, but more injuries type of situation. That edge is going to be the key factor.
Less deaths wouldn't excuse more injuries though. I half wonder if the NHSTA will eventually force Tesla to add some sort of rounded plastic thing around the front edges.
Edit: I just want to clarify on the injury/death ratio, I don't mean that the deaths just turn into injures, but that there is actually more injures. Like if there was 100 pedestrian accidents, and other trucks were 10deaths/20 serious injuries, that the CT might be 5 deaths / 50 serious injuries.
It may prevent some of the older type injuries where you get your calves scooped off in a parking lot, but it doesn't really look like it protrudes out far enough to help out in any other way.
From what I understand they won't be allowed in Europe due to their increased protections in pedestrian safety standards. Not sure if they did actual testing, or they just didn't meet the minimum standards.
I'm pretty sure that's the case yes. The front doesn't meet the required safety requirements.