Questions (some about legality)

[The1exile]

No, seriously, I've been thinking about this for a while now (read: about a day).

Is it illegal to have a spike/battering ram/other metal impaling device attached to your car?

If yes, does the situation change if it's retractable?

Regardless of legality, would it not be quite awesome to have a massive retractable spike attached to the front of your car, or am I daft?

Thoughts pl0x.

[suggs]

Bets on this just turning into a free - for - all on how many anal jokes people can get in whilst talking about retractable spikes?

[InkL0sed]

I doubt it's legal anywhere -- and if it isn't probably because it doesn't happen to often.

You'd probably get arrested anyway...

[The1exile]

Well, really, you're driving a device that can easily go at speeds obscene enough to kill practically anything it hits, is having what is basically a chunk of metal (presumably - any material really) attacked to the front of your car likely to be able to be regulated any more than having spoilers?

[tzor]

Is it illegal to have a spike/battering ram/other metal impaling device attached to your car?

Honestly I don't know ... why? No the why is serious ... first of all you need to have the frame of the car designed to asborb the impact on the spike. Second of all, most hits don't occur dead on to the center of the car. Most people might not be able to avoid a car but they might be able to avoid the spike. Honestly I think a "Cow Catcher" might be more effective, although it might deflect the impact straight to your windshield.

[static_ice]

There's a car in Crackdown which is shaped like a ramp. You drive fast enough and every thing you hit gets flown above you out of the way...

[PLAYER57832]

It should be in your DMV manual.

[Neoteny]

In the US I believe it's legal up to about a foot long. I'm always getting pulled over by lady-cops who want to measure my spike. They're almost always impressed by its firm construction and smooth finish, even though I'm just under the legal limit.

[The Gunslinger]

they could probably get you for wreckless driving and all those other really broad driving laws.

[Curmudgeonx]

In South Africa, this might be legal

otherwise, "operating an unsafe vehicle"

[bryguy]

just make the front of your car go into a shape like this: >

[muy_thaiguy]

I don't think it's legal. And screw having one of those on a car. Just give me the Batmobile.

[The1exile]

why? No the why is serious

Zao had one on his green XKR, and I thought "now there is an idea filled with awesomeness".

first of all you need to have the frame of the car designed to asborb the impact on the spike. Second of all, most hits don't occur dead on to the center of the car. Most people might not be able to avoid a car but they might be able to avoid the spike.

Well, couple of issues - firstly, I would think the impact of the spike would be the same impact (more or less) of ramming the front of your car into anything, but the retractability also comes into play here - you could have it spring loaded. The purposes of the spike would not be to hit people with, necessarily, because I think that would definitely count as assault or intent to cause at the very least, but it's most definitely not to have people then run into said spike.

[tzor]

why? No the why is serious

Zao had one on his green XKR, and I thought "now there is an idea filled with awesomeness".

I would have to search the various law books and I'm not all that great in terms of my google fu but from personal recollection generally speaking the front zone of the car is the responsibility of the driver and barring any questions about imparing the crash worthiness of the vehicle I don't think there really are laws on the books for that sort of thing. Ironically anything which sticks out a certain distance from the rear of a car must be marked with an obvious indicator like a red flag. This is important when you are carring lumber that extends beyond your truck or SUV. The reason is that the person behind you needs to be aware of the potential object that could impale his windshield.