Segway hits car at full speed, results unsurprisingly painful looking

Our Deutsch is a little rusty, but Spiegel's got a hard-hitting, um, sounding story on Segway safety -- specifically regarding what happens when one hits a stationary object or falls off of one while riding it at full speed. Hey der Spiegel, why don't you try the same test with one of those bicycle contraptions we hear Europeans are so in love with? We have a feeling you might be slightly more horrified by the results.

[Via AutoblogGreen, thanks Nate]

[Samboini @ Aug 16th 2008 5:35AM]

In real life that would be considerably less bad considering any human with an ounce of sense will try and avoid a colliossion. Further, in the event of such they would try and implement basic disaster recovery, i.e. putting your hands out to stop your face smashing the floor, or even moving your legs. Only a dummy would hit it as stiff as an erection.

And don't even get me started about the irony of one of the most obese countries in the world inventing this mobility device.

[johnzilla @ Aug 16th 2008 8:43AM]

Yeah, the nerve of a thin American being innovative and inventive when a bunch of people he doesn't even know are overweight.

[CaptCaveman @ Aug 16th 2008 9:33AM]

I'd hit it!

Oh wait, I don't think we're talking about the same thing...

[sonicwind @ Aug 16th 2008 11:21AM]

You said "real life" and "human with an ounce of sense" even with doing unit conversion for people who measure their sense in milliliters, that still leaves a whole lot of people out.

[Steven M. @ Aug 16th 2008 12:12PM]

One of the main reasons Americans aren't in love with bicycles is because they are stupid and lazy.

"A bicycle? Like the thing you ride when you are a kid?"

[Wicker24 @ Aug 16th 2008 12:23PM]

I believe we have a couple of guys here in the states that can ride a bicycle! and I am pretty sure one of them cleaned up for seven or so years in some kind of major road race all while only having one testicle.

[El Taco @ Aug 16th 2008 12:58PM]

the US is fat and proud of it. We also spend more money on war than on schools and have almost as many Mexicans as Mexico does. What's wrong with that?

[Phoenix @ Aug 16th 2008 3:05PM]

Ironically enough, it's made for individuals who are under 250 lbs (115 kg) so obese individuals would not be able to use them. Guess they're stuck with the Hoverround and Rascal scooters. >_>

[chris @ Aug 16th 2008 3:35PM]

everything is wrong with the mexican part, el taco

[Marq @ Aug 16th 2008 6:58PM]

Yeah, we also have just about as many Europeans as Europe. Jeez, what is the world coming to?!

[hiko36 @ Aug 16th 2008 9:41PM]

@ Steve M.

Actually the reason americans aren't in love with bicycles is b/c our roads and cities can actually accommodate cars and such...

[A.C.E.R. @ Aug 16th 2008 5:36AM]

If you manage to crash a fucking segway you deserve worse than a 12 mph crash.

[Mobius_1 @ Aug 16th 2008 7:06AM]

Agree, like maybe the car should be turned by 90 degrees (to facing the segway) and travelling at its normal speeds :P

[naz @ Aug 16th 2008 7:12AM]

I guess George Bush deserves to die then

[Marc-O @ Aug 16th 2008 8:47AM]

Bush didn't crash a Segway. He stepped onto it without first turning it on, expecting it to magically balance, like a dumbass. He didn't even start riding it.

[Liam @ Aug 16th 2008 9:11AM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz5ji__mY5Y

I hate Piers Morgan

[Sabba @ Aug 16th 2008 5:37AM]

i've never even seen a segway on a city street.

[Jamie @ Aug 16th 2008 6:02PM]

I've seen a grand total of one.

Where do people actually use these things?

[Mile @ Aug 16th 2008 5:38AM]

Video won't play for me. :(

[matt @ Aug 16th 2008 6:22AM]

haha, thats superb, the picture of bush falling off in the video is probably the best bit.

[michas_pi @ Aug 16th 2008 6:22AM]

That crash test dummy looks like he's just resting on the car.

Poor guy, so tired. Let him nap in peace.

[misha @ Aug 16th 2008 7:34AM]

i like your name !!

[michas_pi @ Aug 16th 2008 1:25PM]

@misha:

Thank you.

[TH @ Aug 16th 2008 6:26AM]

So, no crash testing on vehicles you like?

[roan simmonds @ Aug 16th 2008 9:02AM]

the situation they are simulating is a guy rushing down a pavement with 12 mph when a car comes out of a driveway like an underground garage. Looks kinda likely to happen for me.

>Further, in the event of such they would try and implement basic disaster recovery, i.e. putting your hands out to stop your face smashing the floor, or even moving your legs.

I'd Like to see a person trying to hold on to the segway while breaking and beeing able to cover his face with his other 2 arms, that wold then probably be broken to bits anyway.

Segways are probably fun and cool to ride but you can not ignore the basics of physics...

[Magnificen7 @ Aug 16th 2008 6:48AM]

See that 'Reply' button on the bottom right of the post? Use it. Like me!

[gpdrummr @ Aug 16th 2008 6:46AM]

looks like he's taking a bow... is jesus on the other side?

[ChriB @ Aug 16th 2008 6:50AM]

It's 9,32056788 mph btw.

I'm from Germany and I would love to know what you mean by "those bicycle contraptions". These Segways aren't even used here. :P

[Carl @ Aug 16th 2008 10:11AM]

I think by "those bicycle contraptions" he means, erm, BICYCLES.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Aug 16th 2008 10:14AM]

The point was that bicycles wouldn't be much safer.

[jan @ Aug 16th 2008 6:53AM]

They simulate that you drive with 15km/h or 9miles/h on the sidewalk and a car come out of the exit.

[Mobius_1 @ Aug 16th 2008 7:04AM]

Let's hope the health and safety nazis don't see this and decide to make all Segway riders wear helmets, that's would be rather unnecessary

[HippyJim @ Aug 16th 2008 11:49AM]

So, you're worried that wearing a HELMET on a segway might make you look stupid?

[saintchuck @ Aug 16th 2008 11:47AM]

Unnecessary due to anyone riding a Segway already looking like a dork so the helmet won't hurt?

[Fishfutter @ Aug 16th 2008 7:07AM]

I'm German and every time they test anything over here they say is dangerous I'm like "oh jesus here we go again!"
I mean of course its more dangerous than "walking" down the street, but I think riding a bike is not any less dangerous and potentually deadly, I mean if you crash into a stationary object such as a car and not wearing a helmet (and lets just face it, your not) you will probably get the same results !!!
This bureaucracy in Germany is making so mad, in order to ride a segway in Germany you need an actual "Moped" drivers license (with lesons), you heve to get your segway registered at the DMV with license plates, and your not allowed to ride it any faster than 5 mph !!!
Oh and have I mentioned you only allowed to drive on marked bicicle lanes (and 1-2 mph on the side walk if there is no bicicle lane)

Cheerio from your paperwork loving Germans ^^

[R.J. @ Aug 16th 2008 3:32PM]

Freedom isn't free.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 16th 2008 7:06AM]

Obviously they didn't run the door-mirror-in-the-crotch tests or the Seg would have gotten a -1 star, and a recommendation for a crotch guard airbag.

On a serious note imagine if somehow the seg stopped and you kept going. I would think that bar WOULD be rather painful. That being said I've never been on an actual seg so what is more likely? You flying over the handlebars or your feet sling forward? Where is the center of gravity when the device stops? More weight will be above the bar so I'd guess that is where you would go. Crotch airbags....Hmmm This is the kind of thing I think of at 6AM and no sleep.

[dhughes @ Aug 16th 2008 11:04AM]

Even better than an airbag would be an ejection seat.

[meist3r @ Aug 16th 2008 7:08AM]

At least from a Segway someone skilled could do a flip or at least leap over the car :P

But hey, this is Germany ... we got some states that have plans to require a mandatory license plate and to top that all off a DRIVING LICENSE for using a segway. It's a smaller license that would apply to mopeds and such but it's another hoop of bureaucracy nonetheless.

[lance @ Aug 16th 2008 7:13AM]

nice face plant!
I give it a 10!

[Rob @ Aug 16th 2008 7:26AM]

Yeah honestly guys, would love them to do a segment on bikes here in Germany. I live and work here in Munich (from Vancouver, Canada), and there are bikes everywhere. My friend just was turning a corner and a bike hit her car, its her fault because a bike has the right of way. Anyway bikes go a lot faster then 9km / hour so would love to see a dummy and a slow motion capture of a bike going 30km and hitting a side of a car. To make things worse, there is no bike helmet law here in Munich. So go germany, but I would love to see a bike passing the safty tests of today.

[Tom @ Aug 16th 2008 7:39AM]

It's not just your "Deutsche" that's rusty - it's your proof-reading too. Germans speak Deutsch not Deutsche.

[Jon @ Aug 16th 2008 8:10AM]

I know lol... but I think they did this *maybe, just maybe* on purpose to show daß er versteht nicht.

[pundit @ Aug 16th 2008 9:03AM]

Niemand versteht, was auf dem Website geschrieben ist, deswegen ist es einfach lustig, wenn Engadget etwas falsches schreibt.

[Scott @ Aug 17th 2008 4:30AM]

Nein, du bist lustig.

[Marc-O @ Aug 16th 2008 8:51AM]

Screw bikes, what about if you're running at the same speed and crash into a stationary object ! Oh noes ! Ban fast running ! I say require a license for speed-walking, that oughta be a good start. Yay Germany.

[pundit @ Aug 16th 2008 9:01AM]

So this is very nitpicky, but you can't just say "Spiegel". It has to be "der Spiegel" when referring to them. It's the same as how you wouldn't call "The Times" simply "Times", even if the URL omits the "the".

Anyway, funny article nonetheless.

[eydryan @ Aug 16th 2008 9:19AM]

http://www.spiegel.de/video/video-34223.html is the link for the video

they say such a crash could be deadly.

however they say that under 9kmph it's quite safe.

[AlphaTeam @ Aug 16th 2008 12:18PM]

I don't like half the stuff Spiegel puts out because it's either lies or made up. Kind of sad really.

[Steven @ Aug 16th 2008 3:03PM]

Oh yeah, sure! What information source would you suggest? Bild?