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Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE OF "MYTHBUSTERS"...
Adam: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ADAM, AND I'LL BE YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANT TODAY.
Narrator: ...IS THE BRACE POSITION INTENDED TO SAVE YOU...
I'VE GOT A REALLY BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS.
...OR KILL YOU?
AND...
I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION
THAT I'M A REALLY, REALLY BAD DRIVER.
...IS DRIVING AND CHATTING...
COULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN?
...JUST AS DANGEROUS AS...
OFFICER, WOULD YOU OPEN ME A BEER?
...DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE?
WHO ARE THE MYTHBUSTERS?
ADAM SAVAGE.
I REJECT YOUR REALITY AND SUBSTITUTE MY OWN.
AND JAMIE HYNEMAN.
I KIND OF LIKE IT IN HERE. IT'S PRIVATE.
BETWEEN THEM, MORE THAN 30 YEARS SPECIAL-EFFECTS EXPERIENCE.
THAT WAS INTENSE.
Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST TELL THE MYTHS.
THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST.
SO, GUYS, I'VE GOT A GOOD ONE.
WHILE FLYING THIS WEEKEND,
I ACTUALLY HEARD A REALLY INTERESTING MYTH
WHILE I WAS READING MY EMERGENCY SAFETY CARD.
THE GUY NEXT TO ME CLAIMS, CONSPIRACY-THEORY STYLE,
THAT THE BRACE POSITIONS,
THAT YOU HAVE TO GET INTO ON THE COMMERCIAL AIRLINES
WHEN YOU'RE CRASHING INTO LAND OR WATER,
ARE ACTUALLY TO KILL YOU.
IT'S SO THAT, WHEN YOU'RE CRASHING,
YOUR NECK WILL INSTANTLY BREAK.
BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY CHEAPER
TO PAY OUT FOR A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT
THAN YEARS AND YEARS OF REHABILITATION.
[ WHISTLES ] THAT'S A GOOD ONE, KARI.
AND WE GET TO DESTROY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT.
AS MUCH FUN AS THAT WOULD BE,
I'M NOT SURE IT'S REALLY FEASIBLE FOR THIS.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO DO SEVERAL EXPERIMENTS.
AND, DESTROYING A FULL-SIZE PLANE,
WE'RE ONLY GONNA GET ONE TEST, IF THAT.
SO DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR A REPEATABLE RIG?
YEAH, I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED SOMETHING CONTROLLABLE
SO WE COULD JUST DO MINI EXPERIMENTS.
ONE WITH THE BRACE POSITION. OF COURSE, BUSTER.
ONE WITHOUT THE BRACE POSITION.
AND JUST SEE IF WE CAN KNOCK HIS HEAD OFF.
SEE IF THERE'S A REAL DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE BRACE POSITION AND SITTING REGULARLY.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT BUSINESS CLASS?
ARE YOU ANY SAFER WHEN YOU SPEND THAT EXTRA DOUGH?
AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE BACKWARDS-FACING SEATS
THAT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS USE.
EXACTLY.
Narrator: TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MYTH,
THE TEAM'S GOING TO HAVE TO LAY THEIR BODIES ON THE LINE.
BUT LET'S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES.
FIRST, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED
THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRPLANE SEATS.
IT'S BACK TO THE OLD "MYTHBUSTERS" STANDBY
FOR AIRLINE PARTS -- INTERFACE AVIATION.
IT JUST KEEPS GOING AND GOING.
Narrator: LAST TIME THE TEAM WAS HERE,
THEY PICKED UP AN IN-FLIGHT TOILET FOR THEIR VACUUM TEST.
BOY, DID THAT SUCK.
WHOA!
Narrator: AND THE MYTHBUSTER MATURITY CONTINUES.
YEAH!
[ LAUGHS ]
THESE WORK.
THEY REALLY WORK. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?
NICE, TORY. LET'S REMEMBER WHY YOU'RE HERE.
Kari: WE'VE GOT QUITE A FUN SHOPPING LIST.
I THINK WE NEED FIVE ROWS OF THE ECONOMY SEATS.
ONE ROW OF TWO-SEATERS FOR THE FIRST CLASS.
IS THIS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE EVER BEEN IN FIRST CLASS?
OH, MAN.
THAT'S THE GOOD LIFE.
Narrator: AND THE FINAL ITEM ON THEIR LIST,
A FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S REAR-FACING SEAT.
COOL. THIS IS GONNA BE PERFECT.
HAPPY? THINK WE GOT EVERYTHING?
I'M VERY HAPPY.
Tory: THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.
WE GOT SOME GOOD STUFF HERE, FOR SURE.
Kari: WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO,
SO WE SHOULD HEAD BACK TO THE SHOP.
Narrator: ALTHOUGH AIR TRAVEL
IS ONE OF THE SAFEST FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION,
EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S.,
AN AVERAGE OF 120 PEOPLE ARE KILLED,
AND 350 SERIOUSLY INJURED, IN COMMERCIAL AIRLINE CRASHES.
WELL, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, OUR RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND
THAT THERE ACTUALLY IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH TO THIS STORY.
OH, YEAH, WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT IT IS, IN FACT, CHEAPER
FOR THE AIRLINES TO PAY OUT A WRONGFUL DEATH SETTLEMENT
THAN IT IS TO PAY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INJURED,
OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR LIFETIME.
WRONGFUL DEATH SETTLEMENTS PAY OUT
AT BETWEEN AROUND 3 AND 5 MILLION BUCKS AN OCCURRENCE.
WHEREAS, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE INJURIES,
FOR A LIFETIME OF REHABILITATION,
THE AIRLINES MAY PAY OUT
BETWEEN $8 MILLION AND $10 MILLION,
AND SOMETIMES UP TO $50 MILLION.
WOW.
YOU HAVE BUSTER'S WHOLE FAMILY HERE.
Narrator: TO ASSURE PASSENGERS THE SAFEST FLIGHT POSSIBLE,
ENGINEER RICHARD DEREESE,
OF THE F.A.A./CIVIL AEROSPACE MEDICAL INSTITUTE,
CONDUCTS EXTENSIVE TESTING
ON THE CRASHWORTHINESS OF AIRLINE SEATS
AND THEIR EFFECTS ON PASSENGERS.
THIS IS SO COOL. [ CHUCKLES ]
KARI POPPED INTO HIS OFFICE IN OKLAHOMA CITY
WOW.
WHERE WE DO ALL OF OUR TESTING.
AND OF COURSE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE AREA IS OUR TEST TRACK.
THIS IS OUR TEST SLED.
ESSENTIALLY, IT'S A ROLLING PLATFORM.
WE HOOK THIS CABLE UP TO THE FRONT.
THEN WE CAN PULL IT BACK WITH A WINCH
AND CONTROL THE SPEED.
THE FURTHER BACK WE PULL IT,
THE FASTER IT'S GONNA BE GOING WHEN IT GETS HERE.
THE TEST SCENARIO
IS A 35-FEET-PER-SECOND VELOCITY CHANGE AT 14 G's.
AND WE GET TO THAT 14-G PEAK IN ONLY 80 MILLISECONDS.
WOW.
AND FROM, OF COURSE, THE TEST DUMMY,
WE'RE GONNA BE GATHERING THINGS THAT TELL US
WHETHER OR NOT THE PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED,
BY THE READINGS WE GET FROM IT.
OKAY, SO THIS RIG MAY BE A BIT
OUTSIDE THE BUILD TEAM'S SCOPE.
BUT TORY'S GOT A PLAN, AND IT'S ON THE CHEAP.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE HYDRAULIC RAMS
THAT THEY USE AT THE F.A.A.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME UP
WITH A NEW EXPERIMENT TO TEST THIS.
ONE THING WE COULD DO IS, BASICALLY,
WE BUILD A GANTRY, PUT THE SEATS ON IT.
WE'LL GET A CRANE AND VERTICALLY DROP IT.
ALL WE HAVE TO GET IS 35 FEET PER SECOND.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DROP IT FOR ONE SECOND,
WE'RE GONNA GET SOME SERIOUS G-FORCES.
Tory: MY NUMBER-ONE CONCERN
WAS THAT THIS THING HAS GOT TO BE SUPER STRONG.
WE WENT WITH 2-INCH-SQUARE TUBING
AND THEN TRIANGULATED THE HECK OUT OF THIS THING.
THE WHOLE GANTRY IS AT A 30-DEGREE ANGLE,
WHICH IS TO SPECS
TO THE F.A.A.'s CRASH TEST THAT THEY DO.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE THEY TAKE TO THE SKIES,
THEIR NEXT MYTH HAS THEM HITTING THE ROAD.
[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]
COME ON, ADMIT IT.
YOU KNOW YOU DO IT --
TALK ON THE CELLPHONE WHILE DRIVING.
AND DEEP DOWN, YOU KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS.
BUT IS IT AS DANGEROUS AS THAT OTHER DRIVING TABOO?
HERE COMES ANOTHER ONE.
THE MYTH IS THAT IT IS JUST AS DANGEROUS
TO DRIVE WHILE TALKING ON A CELLPHONE
AS IT IS WHILE DRIVING DRUNK.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WHILE YOU'RE DIALING,
YOUR EYES ARE NOT ON THE ROAD.
BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO PINPOINT
IS WHETHER THE CONVERSATION ITSELF IS DANGEROUS.
YEAH, PEOPLE SEEM TO BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION
THAT IF YOU'RE AT A STOPLIGHT, IT MIGHT BE OKAY TO DIAL,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT MOVING.
BUT THEN IT'S OKAY TO TALK, ONCE YOU ACTUALLY GET MOVING.
AND THAT'S THE KEY THING ABOUT THIS MYTH.
IS IT, IN FACT, SAFE
TO TALK ON A CELLPHONE WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING?
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA TEST.
Narrator: THEY'RE OFF TO THE RUSSELL RACING SCHOOL
AT INFINEON RACEWAY IN NAPA, CALIFORNIA.
THE PLAN WE'VE GOT TODAY
IS THAT BOTH KARI AND I ARE THE TEST SUBJECTS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO
THE RUSSELL RACING SCHOOL COURSE HERE.
THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT DRIVING SKILLS TO TEST ON US.
Narrator: FIRST, THEY'LL EACH RUN A CONTROL LAP,
SOBER AND CELLPHONE-FREE,
TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE COURSE.
THEN THEY'LL NAVIGATE THE COURSE AGAIN,
ONLY THIS TIME,
WHILE JAMIE DISTRACTS THEM WITH A CELLPHONE CALL.
TRY FOR WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR THAT.
FINALLY, THEY'LL KNOCK BACK A FEW COLD ONES,
TAKE A POLICE-ADMINISTERED BREATHALYZER TEST,
AND THEN CLIMB BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR THEIR LAST LAP.
OH, MAN.
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE.
BECAUSE I DO THINK --
I DO NOTICE, ON OCCASION, TALKING ON THE CELLPHONE,
THAT IT'S EASY TO ZONE OUT.
WHETHER THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO DRIVING WHILE DRUNK,
WHICH I HAVE NEVER DONE, I HAVE NO IDEA.
Narrator: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES.
KARI AND ADAM ARE ABOUT TO TEST THE MYTH
THAT DRIVING WITH A CELLPHONE
IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING DRUNK.
ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO HUMILIATE MYSELF
IN FRONT OF A VERY LARGE AUDIENCE.
Narrator: BUT BEFORE THEY ATTEMPT THE SKILLS COURSE IMPAIRED,
THEY'LL EACH TRY A CONTROL RUN FIRST,
SOBER AND CELLPHONE-FREE.
HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M JAMIE.
HI, MARK.
Narrator: MARK WOLOCATICH,
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR FOR THE RUSSELL RACING SCHOOL,
TAKES THEM BOTH THROUGH THE ROUTE.
GO.
[ ENGINE REVS ]
ARE YOU READY?
GO.
FIRST CHALLENGE --
ACCELERATING TO 30 MILES PER HOUR AND STOPPING AT THE SIGN.
IF YOU DON'T GET TO 30, YOU'RE GONNA FAIL THAT PART OF IT.
IF YOU DON'T STOP AT THE STOP SIGN,
YOU'RE GONNA FAIL THAT PART OF IT.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
OF COURSE, NOBODY STOPS LIKE THIS, DO THEY?
I DON'T.
Narrator: APPARENTLY, NEITHER DOES ADAM.
YOU CAN'T GO INTO THE OTHER LANE.
THEN THERE'S EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE, PARALLEL PARKING.
OH, MAN.
I'M JUST TRYING TO DO A "LADY" AND GET LINED UP.
OH!
I STILL CAN'T PARK.
THE TIME TRIAL COMES NEXT.
[ KARI LAUGHS ]
Wolocatich: YOUR JOB IS TO AVERAGE 15 MILES AN HOUR
THROUGH THE WHOLE COURSE.
SO IF YOU GO TOO FAST OR TOO SLOW,
THEN YOU'RE GONNA FAIL THAT PART OF IT.
AND NOW THE TIME TRIAL.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
YEAH.
AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE AT LEAST 10 MILES AN HOUR AROUND HERE.
YOU'VE GOT TO.
Narrator: AND, FOR THE PIèCE DE RéSISTANCE,
THE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE CHALLENGE.
YOU'LL DRIVE UP AT, SAY, 30 MILES AN HOUR.
I'LL SAY LEFT, RIGHT, OR CENTER.
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT LANE CHANGE,
AND THEN GET THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR LANE CHANGE.
SO, THAT ONE WE'VE GOT TO DO WITHOUT THE BRAKES.
WITHOUT THE BRAKES.
OKAY.
GO.
LEFT.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
NO.
FAIL.
WE GOT A POLE.
AND RIGHT.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
OH, WE MADE IT.
KIND OF TAKES YOU BACK TO THOSE DRIVER-ED DAYS, DOESN'T IT?
WELL, THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD.
WE WERE A LITTLE QUICK FOR WHAT WE CALL "THE ROAD DRIVE."
YOU'RE VERY GOOD AT THE PARKING.
EVERY TIME YOU TURN, I'M GONNA WANT TO SEE
CHECKING BOTH SIDES AND SIGNALING.
YEAH, EVEN --
SO THAT'S A PASS. IT'S ALL GOOD.
AND KARI?
I HAVE A SNEAKING SUSPICION
THAT I'M A REALLY, REALLY BAD DRIVER.
THAT WASN'T BAD.
YOU NEED TO PRACTICE YOUR PARKING,
WHICH NOT MANY PEOPLE DO.
SO I FAILED YOU ON THAT.
THE REST OF IT, YOU DID, ACTUALLY, VERY GOOD
IN THE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE PART.
THAT WAS REALLY CLOSE. BUT IT WAS GOOD.
SO OVERALL, YOU PASSED.
YEAH, BUT THE REAL FUN'S STILL TO COME.
I SUSPECT THAT DRIVING WHILE TALKING ON THE CELLPHONE
IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE IMPAIRMENT
THAN ANY OF US REALLY IMAGINED.
I THINK THE CELLPHONE'S GONNA BE ***.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY.
I'M TRYING ALL MY CONCENTRATION, JUST TO REMEMBER WHAT I'M DOING
WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THIS, AND WHERE THE ROADS ARE.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
Narrator: BACK AT THE SHOP,
THE FRAMEWORK FOR TORY'S "MYTHBUST AIR" PLANE
IS NEARLY COMPLETE.
THEY'LL HAVE BUSTER TESTING
THE VALIDITY OF THE BRACE POSITION IN NO TIME.
COMING DOWN. FINGERS AND TOES.
WHAT I HAVE TO DO NEXT,
I HAVE TO COVER THIS WHOLE THING WITH PLYWOOD,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE THEORETICAL AIRPLANE FLOOR.
I'LL LAY THE TRACKS ON,
AND THEN I'LL START PUTTING ON THE AIRPLANE SEATS.
[ BELL DINGS ]
Narrator: CAREFUL THERE, TORY.
YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME YOU WENT STUNT RIDING.
I'M OKAY.
Narrator: IT'S EASY TO BREAK BONES WHEN THEY'RE REAL.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO BUSTER'S BONES --
WELL, THAT'S A BIT TRICKIER.
FOR THIS MYTH, WE NEED BUSTER'S BROKEN BONES TO EXPLAIN TO US
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE BRACE POSITION
TO THE HUMAN BODY.
SO, WE JUST BASICALLY WANT TO DO SOME FACT CHECKING
TO MAKE SURE THAT BUSTER IS UP TO THE TEST
AND HE WILL GIVE US SOME REAL DATA.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT HE IS AS MUCH LIKE A HUMAN AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator: TO RETROFIT BUSTER'S ALUMINUM FRAME
WITH THE MOST REALISTIC BONES POSSIBLE,
THE BUILD TEAM TESTS THE STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS.
FIRST, ANIMAL BONES AS THE CONTROL...
THEN WOOD...
GREEN FIBERGLASS.
...ACRYLIC...
PVC...
...AND CARBON EPOXY TUBING
TO SEE WHICH WOULD BREAK MOST LIKE A REAL BONE.
OH.
I THINK YOU FOUND YOUR MATCH, KARI.
LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S BROKEN, BUT IT'S NOT --
IT'S NOT SHATTERED.
IT'S PERFECT.
BOTH CARBON EPOXY TUBING AND LAMB BONE
BROKE AT 120-POUND DYNAMIC LOAD.
SO...THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING.
IF THIS MATERIAL BREAKS INSIDE BUSTER
ON OUR CRASH-TEST EXPERIMENT,
WE CAN PRETTY MUCH ASSUME THAT A HUMAN BONE WOULD BREAK.
I KNOW IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT THIS IS THE CLOSEST
THAT WE'RE GONNA GET TO A GOOD CALIBRATION.
Narrator: DON'T LOOK SO GLUM, BUSTER. YOU WON'T BE CRASHING ALONE.
MORE DUMMIES TO KILL, HUH?
WOW.
OH, MY GOD.
IT'S, LIKE, AN EMBARRASSMENT OF RICHES,
AFTER ALL THOSE TIMES OF DESTROYING BUSTER,
I HAVEN'T SEEN A CLEAN DUMMY IN A LONG TIME.
MEET BUSTER'S NUCLEAR FAMILY.
WOW. LOOK AT DAD.
DAD'S BUFF.
[ LAUGHS ]
I THINK DAD'S MOLDED OFF THE HYNEMAN MODEL.
THESE ARE WHAT ARE KNOWN AS "SIMULAIDS."
WHILE THEY ARE THE CORRECT WEIGHT,
IT'S NOT DISTRIBUTED CORRECTLY.
THESE GUYS ARE JUST TO ROUND OUT
PASSENGER SEATING AROUND BUSTER.
HE'S STILL OUR MAIN TEST SUBJECT.
THEY'RE DUMMY DUMMIES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING, AFTER ALL THIS TIME,
TO FINALLY EXPAND THE "MYTHBUSTERS" ABUSE FAMILY.
I MEAN, I KNOW IT CAN'T TAKE
THE SAME KIND OF DAMAGE THAT BUSTER TAKES.
BUT I'M WILLING TO TRY.
Narrator: OH, THE ABUSE WILL COME, ALL RIGHT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE JUST VICTIMS OF FASHION.
DID SHE COME WITH A BRA?
WE DON'T WANT TO BE INDECENT. THIS IS A FAMILY SHOW.
SO, WHERE DID WE GET THE BRA?
NO.
Narrator: LET'S LEAVE KARI HANGING
AND HEAD OUTSIDE TO SEE HOW THE GANTRY IS COMING ALONG.
TORY HAS MOVED IT TO THE TEST SITE
FOR SOME FINISHING TOUCHES -- SEATS.
DON'T YOU THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THE PASSENGERS
A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE?
NO, I THINK WE SHOULD CRAM THEM EVEN CLOSER TOGETHER,
TO SAVE A BUCK OR TWO, YOU KNOW?
DON'T WASTE THAT FUEL.
MORE PASSENGERS, MORE MONEY.
THAT'S WHY AIRLINES GO BROKE,
'CAUSE THEY GIVE PEOPLE TOO MUCH ROOM ALREADY.
[ CHUCKLES ] YOU ARE A SWEET GUY.
"MYTHBUST AIR" IS READY FOR TAKEOFF.
NOW IT JUST NEEDS ITS FINAL PASSENGER.
WELL, I GUESS THE NEXT BIG PROBLEM
IS THE AGE-OLD "MYTHBUSTERS" PROBLEM
OF DETERMINING WHAT HAPPENS TO BUSTER.
HE CAN'T TALK TO US.
BUT WE NEED TO KNOW IF HE'S INJURED, IF HE'S DEAD,
AND IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SITTING IN THE BRACE POSITION
OR SITTING NORMALLY.
WELL, IT SEEMS THAT MAYBE THE NECK
WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO KNOW, IF IT COULD BREAK.
RIGHT NOW, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY WAY OF INDICATING TO US
THAT HE'S GOT A BROKEN NECK.
IF YOU ARE IN AN AIRLINE CRASH,
AND YOUR HEAD IS COMING TOWARDS THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA CRASH IN,
AND YOUR NECK IS GOING TO BEND LIKE THIS,
WHILE THE REST OF YOUR BODY CONTINUES ON.
Narrator: THIS IS KNOWN AS "EXTENSION."
BUT BUSTER'S NECK IS FIXED
AND, THEREFORE, WON'T BEND LIKE A HUMAN'S.
LEAVE IT TO MR. FIX-IT TO CRACK THIS QUANDARY.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BUSTER IS
I'VE GOT TO MAKE A NECK THAT REPLACES THIS ONE.
SO I'M GONNA MACHINE THE NECK, THIS PIECE.
I GOT A COUPLE HINGES FROM THE HARDWARE STORE.
SO HE CAN MOVE, AND ACTUALLY MOVE PRETTY FAR BACK.
AND GRANT HAS ADDED A SERIES OF SPRINGS,
TO SIMULATE THE MUSCLES IN THE NECK
THAT WOULD NORMALLY RESIST FORCE APPLIED TO THE FOREHEAD.
BUT GETTING THE NECK TO BEND IS ONLY HALF THE SOLUTION.
GRANT ALSO NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE
THE AMOUNT OF INJURY THE NECK SUSTAINS DURING THE CRASH.
HE'LL DO SO BY CALIBRATING THE NECK'S ANGLE OF DEFLECTION,
OR HOW FAR IT BENDS BACKWARDS.
SIMPLY PUT, HE'LL HANG A SERIES OF WEIGHTS
FROM THE BACK OF BUSTER'S HEAD, TO MAKE IT BEND...
HERE'S 150 POUNDS I PREPARED EARLIER.
...THEN MEASURE THE RESISTANCE TO BUSTER'S NECK
THROUGH A POTENTIOMETER, WHICH SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE OHMMETER.
THE HIGHER THE KILO-OHMS, THE GREATER THE DAMAGE.
FIRST, THEY RECORD THE RESISTANCE ON THE NECK
WITH NO LOAD ATTACHED, TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE.
OKAY, SO STARTING OUT, WE'VE GOT...
4.29.
OKAY, 4.29.
YEAH.
I'M JUST GONNA LOWER IT DOWN. HERE WE GO.
THEN THEY INCREASE THE WEIGHT,
TO MEASURE THE ANGLE OF DEFLECTION.
GREAT. OKAY, SO WHAT DO YOU GOT?
6.2.
6.2 K.
SO THAT IS SERIOUS NECK INJURY.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
IT'S THE PERFECT "MYTHBUSTERS" SOLUTION.
I'M REALLY PLEASED. THANK YOU, GRANT.
NOW WE GOT TO GET HIS FACE BACK ON THERE.
NOT SO FAST.
GRANT'S GOT ONE MORE GIZMO FOR BUSTER'S HEAD --
AN ACCELEROMETER --
TO MEASURE THE FORCE BUSTER'S BRAIN WILL SUSTAIN UPON IMPACT.
BUT GRANT ALSO HOPES TO MEASURE
THE FORCE OF IMPACT TO OTHER PARTS OF BUSTER'S BODY.
SO HE'S COVERING BUSTER'S TORSO WITH ShockWatch STICKERS.
WHAT YOU DO IS YOU BUY THIS OFF THE SHELF,
STICK IT ON YOUR PACKAGE,
AND IT'LL TELL YOU IF YOU'VE EXCEEDED THE G LOAD.
SO IT KEEPS YOUR SHIPPING AGENT ACCOUNTABLE...
Narrator: IF THE CAPSULE INSIDE THE PATCH BREAKS AND TURNS RED,
YOU KNOW YOU'VE EXCEEDED YOUR SPECIFIED G LOAD.
Grant: I'VE GOT 50, 75, AND 100 G's.
CONVENIENTLY, THESE THREE SIZES CORRESPOND
TO THRESHOLDS OF HUMAN INJURY.
50 G's WOULD CORRESPOND TO THE THRESHOLD INJURY
FOR THE ENTIRE BODY IN A FRONTAL IMPACT.
MEANING THAT ANYTHING UNDER THAT
AND YOU MIGHT POSSIBLY SURVIVE IT.
OKAY.
WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY.
75 WOULD BE FOR A REAR IMPACT --
AGAIN, FOR THE WHOLE BODY THRESHOLD OF INJURY.
AND 100 CORRESPONDS TO INSIDE OF THE HEAD --
YOUR BRAIN ACTUALLY BOUNCING AROUND.
Narrator: THAT'S ALL GREAT. BUT HOW DO THEY WORK?
SO I JUST STICK THIS ON.
Grant: THAT'S IT. THERE'S YOUR PACKAGE.
BEER CAN EQUALS PERSON.
YEP.
LITTLE BIT HIGHER. NOT QUITE 50 G's.
LITTLE BIT HIGHER. I'M GONNA ACTUALLY CHUCK IT.
OKAY.
YEAH. I CAN SEE IT'S RED FROM HERE.
Grant: [ CHUCKLES ]
RED. RED MEANS YOU'RE DEAD.
IF IT WORKS THIS WELL ON A BEER CAN,
THEY CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW IT WORKS ON BUSTER.
THAT'S PERFECT, GRANT. I'M TOTALLY PSYCHED ABOUT THAT.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
ARE YOU FRIGHTENED?
IT'S ROUND 2 OF ADAM AND KARI'S DRIVING TEST.
THEY HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE CONTROL RUN.
SO IT'S TIME TO BREAK OUT THE CELLPHONES
AND TRY A MORE DISTRACTED LAP.
OKAY, FOR THE CELLPHONE TEST, I'LL BE OFF ON THE SIDELINES,
TALKING INTO A CELLPHONE,
AND DELIVERING THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TASKS
TO THE DRIVER IN THE CAR.
THE FIRST ONE IS REPEAT THE SENTENCE.
THEY JUST HAVE TO REPEAT WHAT I'VE SAID.
THE SECOND ONE IS A VERBAL PUZZLE.
THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY THINK
ABOUT WHAT THEIR ANSWER IS GONNA BE.
AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS A MONOLOGUE,
WHERE THEY HAVE TO LIST FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS
ABOUT SOME PARTICULAR SUBJECT THAT I'LL GIVE THEM.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THEIR DRIVING PERFORMANCE
IS GONNA BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA DO VERY WELL ON THIS ONE.
OKAY, GO.
GO.
IF I SAY, "JACK STOLE ANN'S BALL," WHO'S THE THIEF?
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
THAT WOULD BE, UM, JACK.
HUH -- JACK.
OKAY, REPEAT THIS SENTENCE.
THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED FOR DRIVING 67 MILES PER HOUR
IN A 20-MILE-PER-HOUR ZONE.
THE DRIVER WAS STOPPED
FOR DRIVING IN A 50-MILE-PER-HOUR ZONE.
NO, YOU MISSED IT.
THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 67 MILES PER HOUR
IN A 20-MILE-PER-HOUR ZONE.
OKAY, GIVE ME FIVE THINGS
THAT ARE IN THE INTERIOR OF YOUR CAR.
FIVE THINGS IN THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR
WOULD BE THE STEERING WHEEL...
THE REARVIEW MIRROR...
THE PAD OF PAPER...
THE SEAT...
THE SEAT BELT...
A CHARGER...
AND...THE ODOMETER.
DRIVING THIS COURSE WAS INSANE, TRYING TO TALK ON THE CELLPHONE.
YOU COULD NOT PAY ATTENTION TO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.
IF YOU SEE A PICTURE WITH A DIAMOND,
A RECTANGLE, AND A CIRCLE,
AND THE CIRCLE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE RECTANGLE
AND DIRECTLY ABOVE THE DIAMOND,
IS THE RECTANGLE RIGHT ABOVE THE DIAMOND?
I HAVE NO IDEA. RECTANGLE.
COULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN?
[ LAUGHS ]
WHICH GIRL IS TALLER IF JANE IS SHORTER THAN KIM?
KIM IS TALLER.
[ JAMIE LAUGHS ]
KIM IS TALLER.
GIVE ME FIVE THINGS
THAT ARE A PART OF YOUR DAILY WORK OR ACTIVITIES.
UH, KISSING ***...
DRILLING AND TOPPING...
DOING MY HAIR...
DOING ON-CAMERA P.M.C.s...
AND, UM, YOGA...
UH, MAKING PHONE CALLS...
AND, UM -- OH, MAN.
UM, DRIVING TO WORK.
Adam: CHECKING MY E-MAIL...
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
...AND AVOIDING PHONE CALLS FROM CERTAIN PEOPLE.
RIGHT.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
AAH! AND...
Narrator: HERE THEY COME, RACING TO THE FINISH LINE.
AND THE WINNER IS...
OH!
THAT WAS AWFUL. THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY AWFUL.
AND WE ACTUALLY GAVE HER A "FAIL" FOR THE OVERALL COURSE.
THERE WAS ONE TIME THERE
WHERE SHE WAS TRYING TO MANEUVER THE WHEEL,
AND SHE GOT VERY CREATIVE,
KIND OF HELD THE WHEEL WITH HER ELBOW.
Narrator: YEAH, NOT TO MENTION
YOU FAILED OVER HALF THE COURSE'S OBSTACLES.
AND ADAM?
HE DID END UP FAILING. HE FAILED HALF OF THE ELEMENTS.
THAT MAKES THE MYTHBUSTERS 0 FOR 2.
AAH!
THERE ARE A TON OF STUDIES
AND A LOT OF CONFLICTING DATA ABOUT HOW MUCH
TALKING ON A CELLPHONE ACTUALLY AFFECTS YOUR DRIVING.
YEAH, ONE STUDY ACTUALLY SHOWED THAT A SIMPLE CONVERSATION
WOULDN'T AFFECT DRIVING AT ALL.
YEAH, BUT A BRITISH STUDY DID EXTENSIVE TESTING
WITH THINGS LIKE MEMORY TESTS,
REASONING, AND MENTAL ARITHMETIC,
AND FOUND THAT IT DID HEAVILY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE.
AND THAT WAS THE FIRST STUDY TO ACTUALLY COMPARE IT
TO A BENCHMARK OF SOMETHING WE KNOW IS DANGEROUS,
WHICH IS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.
HMM.
IT'S TIME TO START DRINKING.
AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING DRUNK?
WELL, ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT FOR SURE.
KARI AND ADAM ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE
IF DRIVING WHILE ON A CELLPHONE
IS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING DRUNK.
THEY HAVE ALREADY FAILED THE SKILLS COURSE
WHILE CHATTING AWAY.
NOW THEY'LL TRY AGAIN, AFTER PUTTING A FEW BEERS AWAY.
TO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE *** QUICKER,
THEY FASTED SINCE LAST NIGHT.
I'M NOT REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A DRINK.
I HAVEN'T EATEN SINCE I WOKE UP.
I'VE GOT A KIND OF HUNGER HEADACHE.
IT'S A HOT DAY OUT HERE.
AND I EXPECT IT'S GONNA GET ME PRETTY TOASTY.
Narrator: BUT NOT TOO TOASTY.
THE CATCH IS, THEY NEED TO ENSURE
THEIR BLOOD-ALCOHOL RATIO REMAINS BELOW .08,
THE LEGAL LIMIT FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE IN CALIFORNIA,
OR THE EXPERIMENT WILL BE CALLED OFF.
SO THEY'VE CALLED IN A FEW OF SAN RAFAEL'S FINEST
TO ADMINISTER BREATHALYZERS 15 MINUTES AFTER EVERY BEER DOWNED.
OKAY, START DRINKING NOW.
CHEERS.
[ SIGHS ]
YEAH, IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONE'S GOT TO DO IT.
[ BURPS ]
CHEERS.
I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THAT I'M A LITTLE COCKEYED.
ONE BEER, EMPTY STOMACH.
AND APPARENTLY, KARI'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.
YOU'RE GONNA FART ON CAMERA TO PROVE THAT WOMEN
I AM SO NOT GONNA DO THAT.
IF MY BOYFRIEND FINDS OUT I FART, HE MIGHT LEAVE ME.
WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO
IS JUST PUT YOUR MOUTH OVER THIS TUBE HERE AND BLOW.
Narrator: ONE BEER AND 15 MINUTES LATER,
KARI'S READY FOR THE TEST.
SLOW OR HARD?
YEAH, I'LL HOLD ON TO THIS. HARD. OKAY.
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
GO, GO, GO, GO. OKAY.
[ BEEPS ]
OKAY, THERE YOU ARE, RIGHT THERE, .038.
HALFWAY THERE.
THAT MEANS I GET ANOTHER BEER?
OFFICER, WOULD YOU OPEN ME A BEER?
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU'RE NEXT, ADAM.
GO, GO, GO, GO. KEEP GOING. KEEP GOING.
KEEP GOING. GO, GO, GO. THERE.
[ BEEPS ]
OH!
.027.
.027 -- IT SOUNDS LIKE I HAVE A LOT MORE TO DRINK.
NOW, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU DON'T HEAR EVERY DAY.
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
CLOSER, BUT YOU CAN GO HIGHER, KARI.
WHAT DO YOU SAY SHE COMPLETES THE OTHER HALF BEER.
IT'S NOT EVEN A HALF. IT'S, LIKE, A THIRD.
[ BEEP ]
.051 -- I THINK I NEED ANOTHER BEER.
HERE WE GO.
LET'S HOPE KARI'S SECOND BEER'S A CHARM.
.075.
BEAUTIFUL.
ALL RIGHT. CAN'T GET ANY MORE.
.075.
Narrator: AND ADAM'S THIRD TIPS THE SCALES.
.07. .07. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S TRY IT WITH .07.
THEY'RE ROCKED. NOW IT'S TIME TO, UH, ROLL.
[ SINGS BIZET'S "TOREADOR SONG" ]
Narrator: IT'S FINALLY TIME
TO TEST THE AIRCRAFT KILLER BRACE POSITION,
AND ADAM'S SINGING WITH EXCITEMENT.
Adam: BUSTER, AND PART OF HIS EXTENDED FAMILY
ARE GOING TO BE JOINING HIM ON THIS DROP.
THIS FIRST TEST, BUSTER IS GOING TO BE SITTING UPRIGHT,
NOT IN THE BRACE POSITION.
THIS IS THE CONTROL.
AND GRANT IS ACTUALLY SETTING UP
THE ACCELEROMETER IN BUSTER'S HEAD.
HE HAS ALREADY GOT HIS BROKEN NECK RIG.
AND WE'RE JUST GONNA SEE IF THERE'S ANY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THIS AND THE BRACE POSITION.
WE'RE DROPPING HIM FROM 15 FEET.
THAT SHOULD GIVE US THE ABSOLUTELY F.A.A.-SPECCED SPEED
OF 35 FEET PER SECOND.
IT SHOULD BE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 G's OF IMPACT.
AND -- WELL, I THINK ALL HELL'S GONNA BREAK LOOSE.
THIS IS GONNA BE AN ABSOLUTE HORROR SHOW.
THAT ALL LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
WOW.
THAT SEEMS REALLY...HIGH.
YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
ALL RIGHT.
IN 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT WAS A PERFECT, PERFECT DROP.
WHOO!
Narrator: EASY FOR YOU TO SAY, ADAM.
YOU WEREN'T ON BOARD.
Jamie: IT WAS QUITE AN IMPACT.
IT, YOU KNOW, REALLY KIND OF MADE
THE WHOLE CONCRETE AREA HERE SHUDDER.
THAT'S 1,000 POUNDS. IT'S REALLY SOLID.
Adam: ALL THE SEATS ARE TRASHED.
WOW.
Kari: IT WAS WELL-BALANCED.
IT HIT HARD. I'M AMAZED.
Narrator: SO, WAS IT A REGULATION DROP?
CHECK OUT THE REPLAY.
Kari: WE MET THE F.A.A. GUIDELINES
FOR A CRASH TEST PERFECTLY.
IT COULDN'T HAVE GONE ANY BETTER.
I MEAN, WE HAD 41 FEET PER SECOND,
54 MILLISECOND COLLISION TIME,
AND 21 G's SUBJECTED TO THE FRAME.
IT'S PERFECTLY WITHIN THE GUIDELINES,
SO I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD ABOUT THIS TEST.
AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY VALID.
Narrator: LET'S SEE WHAT BUSTER HAS TO TELL US.
DO YOU WANT TO CHECK HIS CHEST METERS?
I WOULD LOVE TO.
WHAT DO YOU GOT?
OOH.
NOT EVEN THE 50.
THAT MEANS BUSTER'S BODY WITHSTOOD
LESS THAN 50 G's OF FORCE ON IMPACT,
MEANING HIS BODY WEATHERED THE CRASH.
PROBABLY THE SEAT CUSHION ABSORBED A LOT OF THAT SHOCK.
BUT WHAT ABOUT HIS HEAD?
WHAT DID THE READER READ -- THE ACCELEROMETER?
THE ACCELEROMETER GAVE ME 56.4 G's,
SO NO SERIOUS HEAD INJURY THERE.
IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 100 G's TO THE HEAD
TO SUSTAIN MAJOR TRAUMA.
SO BUSTER WILL LIVE, BUT HE'S GONNA HAVE ONE MAJOR HEADACHE.
CHECK OUT THIS TRAY TABLE HERE.
SO, WHAT WAS THE NECK INJURY?
SO THE NECK INJURY, THE METER READ 4.67 K,
WHICH ISN'T EVEN CLOSE TO OUR THRESHOLD
FOR SERIOUS NECK INJURY OF 6.7 K.
THAT MEANS BUSTER'S NECK DIDN'T BEND BACK FAR ENOUGH
TO INDICATE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON THE OHMMETER.
I TELL YOU, IT'S PRETTY MUCH A REAL TESTAMENT
TO HOW THESE SEATS ARE BUILT THAT, WITH A FALL LIKE THAT,
THE SEATS COLLAPSING ALL AROUND YOU,
THERE MAY BE SOME BROKEN LEGS,
BUT ALL OF THESE PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE SURVIVED THIS FALL.
THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
EVERYTHING WE HAVE SAYS
THIS IS A SURVIVABLE TYPE OF DROP.
Adam: SO, VERY NEXT THING TO DO IS TO PULL BUSTER DOWN OFF THIS RIG,
RESET HIM FOR TEST NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A BRACE-POSITION TEST.
AND, IN FACT, WHEN RESETTING THIS RIG,
WE HAVE TO PRETTY MUCH REBUILD THE WHOLE THING
TO TEST IT TWICE.
WELL, HERE'S ONE SERIOUS INJURY.
Narrator: ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, THAT'S NOT SO BAD, RIGHT?
WRONG.
YOU'D DEFINITELY NOT BE ABLE
TO MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE SAFETY EXIT WITH A BROKEN FEMUR.
ONLY 20% OF PEOPLE DIE ON IMPACT IN AN AIRPLANE CRASH.
80% SURVIVE, AND I THINK WE'VE SHOWN THAT.
THE REST DIE FROM SMOKE INHALATION AND FIRE DAMAGE.
SPECIFICALLY, IT'S NOT BEING ABLE
TO GET OUT OF YOUR SEAT THAT WILL KILL YOU.
Jamie: OKAY.
WELL, MAYBE THE BRACE POSITION WILL SPARE BUSTER THAT TRAUMA.
WE'RE GONNA SEE IF WE HAVE ANY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE BRACE AND THE NON-BRACE POSITION.
THE BRACE POSITION THAT WE'RE TESTING --
BASICALLY, IN ECONOMY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME ROOM
THAT YOU DO IN THE BUSINESS CLASS.
BUSINESS CLASS HAS THE BEST POSITION,
WHICH WOULD BE DOWN, HOLDING ONTO YOUR KNEES, FLAT DOWN.
BUT, SINCE IN ECONOMY THE SEATS ARE A LITTLE CLOSE TOGETHER,
YOU'RE GONNA BE HOLDING ONTO THE BACK OF THE SEAT,
AND DISPERSING THE G-FORCE BASICALLY ON THE SEAT,
INSTEAD OF ON YOUR NECK.
Narrator: SO, HOW DO YOU GET A DUMMY TO ASSUME THE POSITION?
WE'RE TYING THE HANDS AND HEADS DOWN.
SO, THAT WAY, WHEN WE DROP THE GANTRY,
IT KEEPS IT IN ITS BRACE POSITION.
DEFINITELY NOT GONNA AFFECT THE TEST.
BECAUSE ONCE THIS GANTRY HITS THE GROUND,
IT'S GONNA BREAK THE RESTRAINT.
ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN TAKE IT UP.
Oh, yeah.
Narrator: AND WHAT GOES UP...
3, 2, 1.
...MUST COME DOWN.
WHOA!
TIME TO CHECK BUSTER'S GAUGES AGAIN.
NONE OF THEM TRIPPED ON HIS CHEST.
YEAH, BUT HOW'S THE DAMAGE TO BUSTER'S HEAD LOOK?
THE ACCELEROMETER HAS ONLY 34 G's TO THE HEAD,
SO IT DIDN'T EVEN TRIP A MAJOR EVENT.
Narrator: THAT'S NEARLY 20 G's OF FORCE LESS TO BUSTER'S HEAD
THAN WHEN HE SAT UNBRACED.
AND THE GAUGE IN HIS NECK
MEASURED LESS DEFLECTION, AS WELL,
MEANING IT DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO BREAKING.
SO, WHILE THIS LOOKS REALLY BAD, LIKE A HUGE AMOUNT OF CARNAGE,
IT'S ACTUALLY, AS FAR AS INJURY GOES, NOT THAT BAD.
Narrator: SO, WHEN SITTING IN ECONOMY,
THE BRACE POSITION MAY LITERALLY SAVE YOUR NECK.
BUT PROBABLY NOT YOUR LEGS.
Adam: IT'S A PRETTY CONSISTENT INJURY, THE BROKEN FEMUR.
EVEN IF YOU DID SURVIVE, YOU'RE STUCK IN THESE CHAIRS.
THAT CAN'T BE GOOD.
Adam: THE DAMAGE THAT THE CHAIRS TAKE
IS DAMAGE THAT'S NOT BEING TRANSFERRED TO YOUR BODY.
IT'S LIKE IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT,
YOU WANT TO SEE A CRACK IN YOUR MOTORCYCLE HELMET
'CAUSE IT MEANT IT TOOK ALL THAT FORCE AWAY FROM YOUR HEAD.
IT'S THE SAME THING HERE.
AMAZINGLY, THIS DROP SUPPORTS OUR PRIMARY THESIS
AND ALL OF THE DATA WE HAVE COLLECTED SO FAR.
AND THAT IS, THAT NOT ONLY IS THE BRACE POSITION
NOT DESIGNED TO KILL YOU OUTRIGHT,
BUT IT IS THE SAFEST POSITION TO GET YOURSELF INTO,
IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION OR AN AIR CRASH.
Narrator: SO, BUSTED IN THE CHEAP SEATS,
BUT FIRST CLASS IS UP NEXT.
JAMIE, ARE YOU READY?
BUSTER'S BACK AND READY FOR ANOTHER BRACE-POSITION CRASH.
BUT NO MORE CHEAP SEATS FOR HIM.
HE HAD A FEW TOO MANY TO DRINK.
THIS TIME, HE'S FLYING FIRST CLASS.
SURE, WIDER SEATS AND PLENTY OF LEGROOM
MAKES THE FLIGHT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN COACH...
WE'RE FLYING IN FIRST CLASS.
BUT DOES IT MAKE IT SAFER?
Adam: YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET ALL THE WAY DOWN ON YOUR KNEES
AND GRAB YOUR ANKLES.
SO WE'RE GONNA PULL HIS LEGS BACK.
YEAH.
3, 2, 1.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: WATCHING SOMETHING PLUMMET TO THE GROUND
NEVER GROWS OLD.
WOW.
THE SEATS LOOK LIKE THEY STOOD UP
BETTER THAN THE ECONOMY SEATS.
YEAH, BUT HOW ABOUT THE PASSENGER?
WE LOST A LEG.
OKAY, SO, AT FIRST GLANCE,
MAYBE MORE LEGROOM ISN'T SUCH A BONUS.
WHOA, DUDE.
TWO PLACES -- HERE AND HERE.
WE'VE GOT A BROKEN FEMUR AND TIBIA/FIBULA.
BUT HOW DID THE REST OF BUSTER'S BODY FARE?
THE G-FORCE ACCELEROMETERS ON HIS BODY LOOK GOOD.
I CHECKED THEM, AND NONE OF THEM WERE SET OFF.
SO WE DIDN'T GET ABOVE 50 ON THE CHEST.
NO.
Grant: NO DEFLECTION.
Narrator: AND THE HEAD ACCELEROMETER READS 43 G's,
NEARLY THE SAME FORCE ACHIEVED
WHEN BUSTER ASSUMED THE BRACE POSITION IN ECONOMY.
BECAUSE YOU HAD NO SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU, HE WENT ALL THE WAY
AND BONKED HIS HEAD ON THE GROUND, PRACTICALLY.
BUT I THINK SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE HE CAN BEND A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLY
THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YOGIC MASTERS.
SO IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH TO REACH THE THRESHOLD
OF, LIKE, SERIOUS HEAD DAMAGE.
BUT IT'S A BONK ON THE HEAD.
IT IS A BUMP ON THE HEAD, YEAH.
BUT NOT SERIOUS HEAD INJURY.
Narrator: TWO ASPIRIN OUGHT TO TAKE AWAY THAT HEADACHE,
ASSUMING BUSTER DIDN'T BREAK HIS NECK.
GRANT, WHAT DID YOU GET ON THE NECK POTENTIOMETER?
I HAD ALMOST NO DEFLECTION -- 4.43 K, SO...
NO, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
THERE'S NO SERIOUS NECK INJURY AT ALL.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NO SEAT BACK IN FRONT OF HIM
THAT HE'S HITTING HIS HEAD ON AND PUSHING THE NECK BACK.
HE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A ***,
BUT IT WASN'T A NECK-SNAPPING ***.
I MEAN, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HEAD OR NECK TRAUMA,
BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE EXIT.
WELL, AND AGAIN, THAT SUPPORTS THE DATA THAT WE HAVE.
YOU BREAK YOUR LEG, YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF THE PLANE.
ALL RIGHT, COOL. LET'S SET UP FOR THE NEXT TEST.
Narrator: SO, OVERALL, BUSTER FARED SLIGHTLY BETTER
WHEN ASSUMING THE BRACE POSITION IN FIRST CLASS
THAN WHEN IN ECONOMY.
HE'S GONNA HAVE SOME ACHES AND PAINS, BUT AT LEAST HE LIVED.
FOR THEIR FINAL DROP, THE TEAM'S GONNA TEST
THE ONLY SEAT ON THE PLANE
FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION --
THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S SEAT.
BUSTER HAS NEVER BEEN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT BEFORE.
IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR YOU, A CAREER CHANGE.
Adam: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ADAM, AND I'LL BE YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANT TODAY.
ON BEHALF ON OUR SAN FRANCISCO BASED FLIGHT CREW HERE
ON "MYTHBUST AIR," WE WELCOME YOU TO YOUR FLIGHT.
THAT FLIGHT'S GONNA BE ABOUT... 40 TO 80 MILLISECONDS.
AND THERE MIGHT BE A SHARP BUMP AT THE BOTTOM.
BUT REST ASSURED,
THERE'S PEOPLE HERE THAT CAN PUT YOU BACK TOGETHER.
Adam: 3, 2, 1!
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S ALMOST NO CHANGE AT ALL.
Narrator: THE VOLTMETER INDICATED THAT BUSTER'S NECK HARDLY MOVED.
Grant: THERE WAS ALMOST NO DEFLECTION.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE HEAD WAS FULLY SUPPORTED
BY THAT BACK SEAT REST.
THE POSSIBILITY OF NECK INJURY WAS GREATLY MINIMIZED.
I'M GONNA GET THE DATA OUT OF HIS HEAD RECORDER.
I GOT A PEAK OF 87.4 G's.
Adam: YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE HIGH-SPEED.
HIS WHOLE BODY BENT FORWARD,
BUT THERE WASN'T A HUGE WHIPLASH KIND OF CRACK.
Narrator: 87 G's -- THAT'S NEARLY TWICE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE
SUSTAINED IN EITHER THE ECONOMY OR FIRST-CLASS DROP TESTS,
BRACED OR UNBRACED.
AND THE ACCELEROMETERS ON THE CHEST
AREN'T PAINTING A PRETTY PICTURE, EITHER.
WE TRIPPED THE 50-G METER.
YEAH.
SO IS FLYING REAR-FACING REALLY SAFER
THAN FLYING THE CONVENTIONAL WAY?
DR. JOHN PAUL STAPP BELIEVED SO.
DR. STAPP'S CRASH-SURVIVAL RESEARCH PROGRAM
PROVED THAT HUMANS CAN, IN FACT, SUSTAIN MUCH HIGHER G-FORCES
IN THE BACKWARDS-FACING POSITION,
TOPPING OUT AT A PEAK LOAD OF 85 G's.
BUT ENGINEER RICHARD DEREESE ISN'T QUITE READY
TO TURN ALL THE AIRLINE SEATS AROUND JUST YET.
WHILE A REAR-FACING SEAT WILL SPREAD THE LOADS OUT BETTER
DURING A FORWARD IMPACT,
IT ALSO HAS YOU FACING REARWARD,
AND ALL THAT FLYING DEBRIS IS NOW COMING AT YOU.
A WELL-DESIGNED REAR-FACING SEAT,
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT,
BUT A FORWARD-FACING ONE CAN BE JUST AS SAFE
IF IT'S DESIGNED AS WELL.
LET'S HOPE SO, BECAUSE THE NEXT DROP
HAS THE MYTHBUSTERS PUTTING THEMSELVES ON THE LINE.
IT'S ROUND 3 OF THE CELLPHONE VERSUS DRUNK-DRIVING TEST.
AND KARI AND ADAM ARE, UH, FUELED UP AND READY TO GO.
THEY HAVE ALREADY PASSED THE CONTROL RUN
BUT FAILED THE COURSE WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE.
NOW THEY'VE CONSUMED JUST ENOUGH ALCOHOL,
AND ON EMPTY STOMACHS NO LESS, TO REMAIN BELOW THE LEGAL LIMIT,
WHILE DRIVING THE COURSE A THIRD TIME.
.065?
OH, MY GOD. YOU'RE GETTING IN MY CAR?
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE INSTRUCTOR PUTS HIS LIFE ON THE LINE
TO GRADE THEIR PERFORMANCES.
BEING THE FACT THAT WE'RE ONLY GONNA POTENTIALLY
KNOCK OVER A FEW CONES, I AM JUST FINE.
LET'S HOPE KARI'S DRIVING ISN'T THAT BAD.
AND GO.
FIRST OBSTACLE -- THE BRAKE TEST.
UH, THAT'S A STOP SIGN, KARI.
SLOW DOWN. STOP.
Wolocatich: WE DID GO PAST THE STOP SIGN HERE,
RIGHT OFF THE BAT, BY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE FEET.
SO WE ENDED UP IN THE CROSSWALK.
Narrator: NOT A PROMISING START.
AND PARALLEL PARKING IS UP NEXT.
Wolocatich: ACTUALLY, I GAVE HER THE PARKING.
IT WAS ONE OF HER BEST EFFORTS. IT WAS MARGINALLY GOOD.
Narrator: HERE COMES THE ROAD TIMING TEST.
REMEMBER -- IT'S GOT TO BE DONE IN 45 SECONDS.
[ TICKING ]
UH-OH -- 30 SECONDS.
THAT'S GONNA COST YOU.
HOPE YOU DO BETTER ON THE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE TEST.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
Wolocatich: WE PRETTY MUCH KILLED A COUPLE OF CONES
OVER IN THE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE.
Narrator: OR MAYBE NOT.
I ALSO THINK I TOOK OUT A FEW CONES.
A FEW CONES?
YOU BLEW AWAY HALF THE OBSTACLES, KARI.
THAT'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS A "FAILURE."
COULD WE STOP USING THE WORD "FAILURE"
AND JUST BE, LIKE, I DIDN'T SUCCEED?
I AM FEELING A LITTLE BIT TIRED AND TIPSY.
AND I'M DEFINITELY DONE WITH THIS EXPERIMENT,
'CAUSE I DON'T USUALLY DRINK BEERS DURING THE DAY IN THE SUN.
ALL I WANT TO DO IS GO TO SLEEP NOW, AND MAYBE EAT SOMETHING.
Narrator: GO AHEAD, KARI. INDULGE.
YOU'VE EARNED IT.
I'M GONNA EAT PIZZA IN A MINUTE.
THAT'S ALL I REALLY CARE ABOUT.
Narrator: YOU'LL GET YOUR REWARD SOON ENOUGH, ADAM...
AND GO.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
...ASSUMING YOU CAN EVER PARK.
Wolocatich: WELL, WE SAW THE PARKING,
SO THAT WAS A LITTLE OFF.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF TIMES
THAT I REMINDED HIM TO LOOK BOTH WAYS.
AND I GAVE HIM KIND OF A HALF "FAIL" ON THAT.
Narrator: HE'S COMING DOWN THE HOME STRETCH.
JUST ONE CHALLENGE LEFT.
Wolocatich: THE ONLY THING WITH THE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE,
HE DID DO IT, BUT HE KIND OF SLOWED DOWN
THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.
Narrator: IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD, ADAM.
LIKE KARI, YOU FAILED NEARLY HALF THE COURSE.
2 1/2 "FAILS," I GUESS.
SO YOU JUST, LIKE, KIND OF SUCK.
I DON'T KIND OF SUCK.
I MEAN, I WAS DEFINITELY IMPAIRED ENOUGH
THAT -- YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SORT OF IMPAIRED
YOU WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE OFF THE ROAD AT THAT LEVEL.
Narrator: THAT'S RIGHT.
NOT ONLY IS DRINKING AND DRIVING NOT SMART,
IT'S ILLEGAL AND VERY DANGEROUS.
SO, WHAT'S THE FINAL WORD?
CLEARLY, THE RESULTS SHOW
THAT TALKING ON THE CELLPHONE WHILE DRIVING
IS POTENTIALLY AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING DRUNK.
I MEAN, WE FAILED BOTH THE CELLPHONE
AND THE DRUNK-DRIVING TESTS.
BUT WE FAILED THE CELLPHONE TEST BY A MUCH BIGGER MARGIN.
HOWEVER, ALL THAT BEING SAID,
I STILL THINK THAT YOU CAN ALWAYS PUT DOWN THE CELLPHONE
IF SOMETHING'S HAPPENING THAT YOU'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.
YOU CAN'T EXACTLY -- OR AT LEAST I CAN'T EXACTLY --
JUST STOP BEING DRUNK.
SO, WHAT DO YOU RECKON --
CONFIRMED, BUSTED, OR PLAUSIBLE?
IT'S ABSOLUTELY CONFIRMED.
I AGREE -- CONFIRMED.
I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED.
[ TIRES SCREECH ]
Narrator: "MYTHBUST AIR" IS READY
FOR ITS FINAL TAKEOFF AND CRASH LANDING.
ONLY THIS TIME, THEY'RE TESTING THE BRACE POSITION
WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF DUMMIES.
WE'RE ABOUT TO DO
THE "MYTHBUSTERS BODY ON THE LINE" TEST
OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DROP FROM A HEIGHT
WHILE SITTING IN AIRLINE SEATS.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA STRAP OURSELVES IN
GO FOR A VERY SHORT RIDE.
THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IF WE DID THIS IMPROPERLY
IS FAIRLY HOT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN A VERY SAFE
AND CONTROLLED MANNER -- ONLY FROM ABOUT 5 FEET.
OUR CALCULATIONS SAY
WE SHOULDN'T PULL ANY MORE THAN ABOUT 3 G's.
Narrator: BUT JUST IN CASE, THEY'LL WEAR SHOCK STICKERS
TO SEE IF THEIR FALL SURPASSES 50 G's.
Adam: [ Geeky voice ] THIS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL MY SPECIAL POWERS.
Kari: [ CHUCKLES ]
[ Normal voice ] THERE WE GO. ARE YOU SEAT-BELTED IN?
Grant: REMEMBER -- DON'T TENSE UP YOUR ARMS.
[ LAUGHS ]
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO ME?
I DON'T KNOW -- BREAK MY NECK.
BUSTER BROKE TWO FEMURS IN EVERY SINGLE TEST WE DID,
BUT WE WERE DROPPING HIM FROM 15 FEET.
WE'RE ONLY DROPPING FROM 5,
WHICH, IT DOESN'T LOOK THAT HIGH UP --
IT DOES LOOK HIGH, BUT IT'S NOT.
LET'S RAISE IT UP.
I'VE GOT A REALLY BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS.
I PROMISED MY MOM I WOULDN'T
DO ANYTHING DUMB AND UNSAFE AGAIN.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU DIDN'T KEEP YOUR PROMISE.
Adam: LET'S GET IT GOING.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE HIGH,
BUT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
I WOULD BE RIGHT UP THERE WITH YOU,
IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT PRIOR BACK INJURY
AND THE INSURANCE PEOPLE.
Narrator: RIGHT...
LET'S DO IT, BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.
IN 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
OW.
AAH, I SMASHED MY HEAD INTO THE SEAT.
THAT FELT TERRIBLE.
MY HEAD'S FINE. MY GLASSES ARE BROKEN.
I BANGED MY KNEE INTO THE CHAIR IN FRONT OF ME.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
NOT TOO BAD.
YEAH, I'M GOOD.
YEAH. MY SHINS KIND OF HURT.
YOUR SEAT ABSORBED A HUGE AMOUNT OF ENERGY.
I MEAN, IT'S COLLAPSED HERE, SO THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
'CAUSE THAT ENERGY WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING INTO YOUR SPINE.
I FEEL LIKE I NEED A DRINK.
Kari: YEAH, A LITTLE SHAKY.
Narrator: REALLY?
BUT IT SEEMED LIKE SUCH A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME.
OH, MY GOD.
I SMACKED MY KNEE INTO THE FRONT OF THE CHAIR.
THAT'S GONNA BE A BRUISE.
OH, HO.
HEY, BUT YOU DIDN'T BREAK ANY BONES.
I would like to say, "I'm sorry" to you, Mom and Dad.
I don't know. I'm a little stupid.
TOOK THE WIRE OUT OF MY BRA.
POPPED THE WIRE STRAIGHT OUT OF HER BRASSIERE.
Man: CAN I GET A CLOSE-UP?
NO, NO. THAT'S ONE CLOSE-UP WE DON'T NEED.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE WERE AT A 30-DEGREE ANGLE,
THE BRACE POSITION PROBABLY KEPT ALL OF US
FROM HAVING SOME TYPE OF HEAD TRAUMA.
BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF HOLDING YOURSELF BACK
WITH THAT KIND OF FORCE,
EVEN WITH THOSE 3 OR 4 G's, OR WHATEVER WE WERE PULLING.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOLD OUR HEADS BACK,
SO I'M GLAD WE HAD OUR HEADS LIKE THAT.
THE WORST THING WAS BANGING INTO THE SEAT IN FRONT OF ME.
AND THAT REALLY MADE IT CLEAR WHY YOU DON'T WANT YOUR LEGS --
WHY YOU DON'T WANT YOUR FEET UNDER THE SEAT AHEAD OF YOU.
THE BRACE POSITION DEFINITELY FELT GOOD.
I FELT LIKE IT TOOK ALL OF THE ENERGY AND PUT IT INTO THE SEAT,
INSTEAD OF MY NECK AND HEAD.
SO, IT WAS, LIKE, THAT INITIAL PUNCH HURT,
BUT I MEAN, I'D GO HIGHER.
THE BRACE-FOR-IMPACT POSITION
IS DEFINITELY THE POSITION YOU WANT TO GET IN,
IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO.
OUR TESTS HAVE SHOWN THAT IT'S AT LEAST THREE TIMES SAFER
THAN SITTING UPRIGHT AND STRIKING THE SEAT.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.
WELL, WE THANK YOU FOR FLYING "MYTHBUST AIR."
AND ON BEHALF OF OUR SAN FRANCISCO BASED FLIGHT CREW,
TORY, KARI, AND ADAM, WE KNOW YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF AIRLINES.
AND WE'RE GLAD YOU CHOSE US.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO THE MYTH THAT THE BRACE POSITION
IN AN AIRLINE CRASH IS DESIGNED TO KILL YOU --
WHAT DID WE GET?
WHAT WERE THE FINAL TALLY OF NUMBERS, GRANT?
WELL, WHAT WE FOUND WAS, IN THE ECONOMY CLASS,
THAT BRACED IS DEFINITELY SAFER THAN UNBRACED.
AND THE FIRST CLASS IS SAFER STILL THAN ECONOMY CLASS.
AND FINALLY, THE STEWARDESS -- THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT SEAT
WAS THE SAFEST OF ALL,
SUSTAINING UP TO 80 G's OF DAMAGE,
AND ALMOST ZERO NECK DEFLECTION.
WELL, AND THE OTHER GREAT SUCCESS WE HAD ON THIS IS,
WE'VE ADDED TO THE "MYTHBUSTERS" FAMILY.
WE'VE GOT THREE NEW TEST DUMMIES TO ABUSE.
AND I THINK THEY'VE ALREADY PERFORMED ADMIRABLY.
I SEE THEY ALREADY SHOW THE SCUFF MARKS
OF SOME REAL "MYTHBUSTERS" SERVICE.
SO, WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK --
PLAUSIBLE, CONFIRMED, OR BUSTED?
THIS ONE'S TOTALLY, TOTALLY BUSTED.
BUSTED.