Crumple zones are a common safety feature in modern cars. In the event of a crash, the car is designed to deform and absorb the energy of the impact, rather than transferring it to the occupants of the vehicle. Béla Barényi, known as « the lifesaver » by Mercedes Benz, was the engineer behind the first crumple zones in automobiles. At the time, safety was not a popular topic among manufacturers, as it was seen as a potential deterrent for consumers.
Barényi’s innovative idea was to dissipate the kinetic energy of a crash through controlled deformation of the vehicle. This creates time and space between the driver and the impact, reducing the severity of potential injuries. By crumpling the hood of the car, the most dangerous part of the crash, when the car comes to a sudden stop and the head moves forward and back, is mitigated. This can prevent serious injuries such as neck sprains or basilar fractures.
Personal experience with the importance of crumple zones was highlighted by a near-fatal accident during a late-night drive. The author’s car went off the road and collided head-on with a tree, resulting in the crumpling of the vehicle as designed. The strategic placement of lightweight metals in the car acted as a buffer, protecting the driver from serious harm.
Contrasting this with an incident involving the author’s father, who was driving a classic car without crumple zones, resulted in severe injuries and a prolonged hospital stay. The importance of safety features in modern vehicles, such as crumple zones, is emphasized by these personal experiences.
Memories of the author’s father and his passion for cars, as well as the impact of safety features on their lives, are intertwined with reflections on their shared experiences and the importance of vehicle safety.
He spent his formative years traveling around the country, but his true home was on a red dirt road in Chunchula, Alabama. Chunchula may not be officially recognized as a town or village, but it holds a special place in his heart. Every Christmas, summer, and spring break, his family would make the journey to Chunchula, located miles away from any paved roads.
Growing up, the lyrics to Brooks & Dunn’s song « Red Dirt Road » have resonated with him. The country duo, who burst onto the music scene in 1991, became a staple in the country music genre with hits like « Neon Moon » and « Boot Scootin’ Boogie. » Their music became intertwined with his memories of home.
One particular memory stands out, of a night filled with youthful rebellion and a touch of danger. It was the night he and some friends stole a bottle of Jack Daniels and took turns taking swigs on a trampoline. Despite not drinking much himself, the experience was exhilarating and marked by laughter and camaraderie under the stars.
Driving home that night, just eleven years old and barely tall enough to see over the wheel, he navigated the red dirt road with his family in tow. The next day, his father bore the marks of a bonfire mishap, a reminder of the wild night before.
The road up the hill to his home was lined with prefabricated homes and dense pine trees. Passing by a trailer adorned with flags and memorabilia, he felt a sense of entering a different world, far removed from city life. The presence of NASCAR culture was strong in the area, with families and drivers alike embodying the spirit of the sport.
Reflecting on the legacy of NASCAR legends like Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, he recalls the reverence with which they were held in his household. The sport of NASCAR was not just a pastime but a way of life, with dynasties of drivers carrying on the tradition.
In a poignant moment, he revisits the tragic end of Dale Earnhardt’s life during the Daytona 500 in 2001. The loss of the legendary driver left a profound impact on the racing community and underscored the risks and rewards of the sport. The Daytona 500 was a highly anticipated event, with millions of people tuning in to watch the race unfold. In the final moments of the race, tragedy struck as Dale Earnhardt crashed into the retaining wall at 155 miles per hour, resulting in his instantaneous death from blunt force trauma and a basilar skull fracture. This marked the fourth NASCAR driver to die of such injuries within the past year, sparking a conversation about safety measures in the sport.
Before his death, Earnhardt had been vocal about his reluctance to wear safety devices such as the HANS device, which he viewed as restrictive and uncomfortable. However, following his tragic accident, initiatives such as the implementation of the SAFER barrier were introduced to absorb and reduce kinetic energy during high-speed crashes, significantly reducing the risk of injuries to drivers and spectators.
The impact of Earnhardt’s death extended beyond the racing world, with personal reflections on the consequences of his passing. The aftermath of his death coincided with significant events in the author’s life, including their father’s deployment with the Navy and the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The author reflects on the lasting effects of these experiences, highlighting the profound impact of loss and trauma on individuals and families.
Je me souviens, dans le sillage de tout cela, du divorce, de la confusion, de la douleur; je me souviens avoir pensé que cela aurait été plus facile si mon père était simplement mort là-bas. Que cela aurait été une coupure nette. Pas ce gâchis, cet amas froissé.
La naissance des repères de Bott
Elbert Dysart Botts était un chimiste du Midwest qui a été recruté par le Département des Transports de Californie. Il a mené des recherches modestes pour identifier les meilleures formes et textures à utiliser pour les repères de chaussée sur les autoroutes et les routes principales. Ils étaient placés le long des bords des voies pour servir d’aide auditive lorsque les conducteurs somnolents déviaient de leur trajectoire. Botts ne savait pas qu’il serait rappelé par de petits points nous guidant en toute sécurité chez nous la nuit. Les « Botts dots » n’ont pas été largement répandus, ni même appelés ainsi, avant la mort de Botts en 1962.
Le génie derrière la zone de déformation
Après que Béla Barényi, le « sauveur » de Mercedes, a perdu son père pendant la Première Guerre mondiale, après que sa famille ait tout perdu pendant la Dépression, et sans craindre le mot sécurité, Barényi a développé la zone de déformation.
Des souvenirs de NASCAR et de cicatrices
Dale Jr. a piloté des voitures avec son père, et lors du concert hommage à son père, Brooks & Dunn ont présenté une nouvelle chanson intitulée « Red Dirt Road ».
La première fois que j’ai conduit une voiture, mon père était à l’arrière à rire du fait que ses enfants étaient à l’avant tout en maudissant les ampoules qui commençaient à se former sur ses mains.
Des cicatrices comme des repères le long de la route
Quand je pense à mon père, je pense à une Miller Lite et une Marlboro dans la même main. Je pense à Brooks & Dunn, à NASCAR et à la Marine, et j’essaie de ne pas trop penser aux fois où j’ai souhaité qu’il soit mort. Je pense à son accident et au mien, et parfois je me demande s’ils ont vraiment été les mêmes, ou si je veux juste qu’ils le soient. Je pense aux lignes qui descendent le long de ses deux jambes. Le tissu cicatriciel opalescent qui court de ses cuisses, sur ses genoux, et jusqu’à ses tibias. Ses jambes ont été ouvertes par cet accident sur cette route en terre rouge, puis elles ont été agrafées de nouveau. Vous pouvez voir où chaque agrafe individuelle était, comme de petits points lumineux le long de deux routes parallèles.
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Gagnant du Prix James A. Winn en Nonfiction 2024, « Red Dirt Road, A Crumple Zone » par Sara Mitchell est publié dans le Michigan Quarterly Review 64:1, le numéro de l’hiver 2025.
