Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site pbear.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cca!pbear!peterb From: peterb@pbear.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Re: DWI Crackdowns Message-ID: <6700027@pbear.UUCP> Date: Fri, 26-Jul-85 13:44:00 EDT Article-I.D.: pbear.6700027 Posted: Fri Jul 26 13:44:00 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 00:07:32 EDT References: <9272@ucbvax.UUCP> Lines: 41 Nf-ID: #R:ucbvax:-927200:pbear:6700027:000:1732 Nf-From: pbear!peterb Jul 26 13:44:00 1985 /* Written 12:02 pm Jul 18, 1985 by kontron!cramer in pbear:net.flame */ >1. Require those convicted of DWI to drive motorcycles for a year or > two, instead of cars. This has several positive effects. > > a. Drunk on motorcycle is much less dangerous to others than drunk > in car. (KE = 0.5 * m * (v^2) > > ... > >Why not just pull the license of a DWI? Because judges and juries are >reluctant to prevent someone from being able to get to work; if they >have a motorcycle license, they have no excuse. First, a motorcycle is capable of becoming a lethal weapon just like a car is. What is worse is that the motocycle can be MORE lethal than a car. Take the V-Max by Yamaha. it weighs 425 pounds and can do 157mph. This has the same kinetic energy as a one tone car doing 72.37mph(about the speed limit in MA but that's another flame), and if you match it against the speed limit, then the weight works out to a 3463.08 pounds. That about the weight of a decent station wagon. A motorcycle does not have bumpers and the frame is not designed to absorb any energy from impact since its rigidity is what makes a motorcycle stable, so there is very little energy converted into heat as the motorcycle impacts another object. The frontal are of a motorcycle is far smaller than a car, so the energy from an impact of a motorcycle is concentrated making the energy transfered per unit area of impact are is quite higher. Therefore a motorcycle can be FAR more dangerous that a car in a collision. Judges and juries don't even ask you if you work. They just pull it. No ifs ands or buts about it. Its gone for 30 days in MA(for a first offense). Peter Barada {ihnp4!inmet|{harvard|cca}!ima}!pbear!peterb