Final answer:
The statement is false because complex intersections, due to their design with multiple intersecting paths, have higher chances of traffic collisions. Physics principles applied to traffic accidents indicate the importance of factors like vehicle mass, velocity, and road friction. Empirical data on collisions informs us about the likelihood of accidents and informs decisions like installing traffic signals for safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that "Very few collisions take place in complex intersections" is false. Complex intersections are typically areas where multiple roads intersect, and the traffic flow is more complicated due to various possible paths that vehicles can take, including turning movements and crossing paths. This complexity increases the probability of traffic collisions because there are more points at which the paths of vehicles can intersect, leading to potential conflicts.
Using examples involving physics principles, when a small car collides with a truck at an intersection, the resulting velocity of the combined wreckage depends on the masses and velocities of both vehicles before the collision. Additionally, factors such as the coefficient of friction between the car's tires and the road surface are significant when determining the outcome of the collision post-impact, such as in Example 9.13 - Analyzing a Car Crash.
To address the probability of collisions, empirical observations, such as installing traffic cameras to monitor behaviors like running red lights, can provide experimental probability data. This data can help understand how frequently collisions occur at a given intersection, as alluded to by the problems associated with vehicles speeding through and the consequent call for traffic signals to manage the safety concerns.