Crash Test Dummies

We’ve all seen news or movie footage of them, that family of dad, mum, two children and baby who get to drive the latest Volvo, Jaguar, Jeep Cherokee or some other such vehicle into a block wall at 60 kph (40 mph) in an effort to test its safety features. This family has “evolved” over the years as technology has changed, and consumer demands for safer vehicles have become an ever increasing factor in new car sales.     

This family even has a name…. they are the Hybrid 111 Family, and they represent 50 percentile of the “average western” population. The entire family was “born” in America, in General Motors’ labs. They are called hybrids because their ancestors were created by combining parts of two different types of dummies.

They survive endless crashes, receive life-threatening injuries, and keep on going back for more! Just to make motoring a little safer for you and me. Over the years I have been, as I am sure you have, involved in motoring situations that I have survived thanks to this family, and their endless efforts to make driving foolproof.

The “adam” of crash test dummies went by the colorful name of “Sierra Sam” who was created in 1949, for the US Air Force by Sierra Engineering Co. under a contract with the Air Force, to be used for evaluation of aircraft ejection seats on rocket sled tests.

Crash test dummies are faithful to the human form-- in overall weight, size and proportion. Their heads are designed to respond like the human head in a crash situation. The chest cavity has a steel rib cage that simulates the mechanical behavior of a human chest in a crash. The rubber neck bends and stretches just like yours or mine, and the knees also are designed to respond to impact, similar to human knees.

Hybrid III crash test dummy has a life-like vinyl skin and is equipped with sophisticated electronic tools including accelerometers, potentiometers and load cells. These measure the acceleration, deflection and forces that various body parts experience during crash deceleration.

Crash tests dummies are directly responsible for the saving of thousands of lives, and have lessened the injuries that millions of people get every year in auto accidents.

If only someone would invent crash test dummies for everyday living!

Gone would be the need to experience pain, rejection or disappointment, life threatening injury and disease and the myriad other sufferings that we undergo…. Imagine; no more toothache! Just the nice “warm and fuzzy” things of life, the sensual feeding of our appetites.

  

With our human frailties “crash tested” out of existence, we could then truly live in the paradise that was intended for our first ancestors…

And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth”. Genesis 1:27-28

Oh dear… we were created without the need for anyone or thing to “test” our environment… it was perfect! Sadly, our very first parents seemed determined to crash into a block wall, just to test it out and see if they might sustain any damage.

So, then in the absence of crash test dummies for living, how might we best succeed at the “game of life”?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. Do those things which you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me. And the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:6-9