Nova, Ultimate Crash Test
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Wednesdays, May 8 & 15, at 9 PM
Thursdays, May 9 & 16, at 2 AM
Tuesdays, May 13 & 20, at 5 PM
A first-of-its-kind experiment aims to stage a multi-vehicle pileup to gain new data on car safety.
Episode 1: Countdown
A first-of-its-kind experiment aims to discover what really happens in a multi-vehicle pileup and how cars and driving could be made safer. In the first episode of this two-part special, go behind the scenes as scientists make a series of high-stakes decisions to ensure the ambitious experiment goes off without a hitch. They only have one shot. The plan is for eight drivers to drive eight different types of cars by remote control at 70 mph down a hazardous roadway.
Episode 2: Impact
In the second episode of this two-part special, forensic analysis is put to the test in a first-of-its-kind experiment to discover what really happens in a multi-vehicle pileup. Real-life crash scene investigations have very little data to work with, so are they accurate? And what can we learn about car safety when there is actual data to show exactly what happened? Follow scientists, engineers, and accident investigators as they analyze a treasure trove of data – more than they’ve ever had before. In this unprecedented look at a major multi-vehicle accident, discover insights about driver behavior and vehicle design that could save lives.
