Closing speed is used to describe the speed of two vehicles colliding in a head-on collision. For example, if a vehicle doing 70mph collides with another vehicle doing the same speed, the closing speed would be 140mph.
The closing speed of 140mph would be estimated to emphasise the dangers. However, other factors would need to be taken into consideration to get a more accurate closing speed; other factors to be considered are:
- The angle of the two vehicles upon impact
- The types of vehicles involved in the collision, e.g. if one vehicle is smaller than the other, the smaller vehicle would suffer more damage
- Incline/decline
- Position of the vehicles after the collision