"The Convincer" Simulates a 5 MPH Car Crash

You don't need to wear a seat belt if you're traveling at a low speed, right? Wrong. The Convincer, a safety demonstration tool owned by the Connecticut State Police, shows why. Strap in and experience a 5 MPH crash. Feel your chest slam against the seat belt. That hurts, doesn't it? Now imagine if that wasn't your chest hitting the seat belt, but your face hitting the windshield.

(Video Link)

That's why you wear a seat belt. When the State Police set up The Convincer at the University of Hartford, they were very convincing.

They also had a car rollover simulator, which looks fun!

-via Twisted Sifter

I just had to see the first "crash" and I was convinced.

How much would it cost to get one of these at every High School in the country and make it a mandatory part of passing Driver's Ed and getting a Driver's license. I feel like it would be worth the expense.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

3 replies

I got hit in the side of the car once by a vehicle that just pulled out and probably wasn't even going five MPH. The car was hurt pretty badly, we were spun around, but no injuries. We were all belted. My two-year-old in the back could have been dashed against the interior badly if she weren't in her car seat. That really brought the value of restraints home to me.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

We had a 5 MPH crash simulator at my school in 1976, when I was learning to drive. It was a good tool. Does this post mean that it was discontinued, or just that a new generation is now using it?

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Login to comment.

Click here to access all of this post's 6 comments