diff --git a/TODO.txt b/TODO.txt
index bf0e1c5..071203f 100644
--- a/TODO.txt
+++ b/TODO.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 =========== HANDLED ==============
 
 - allow stopping car rotation in air like in Trackmania
+- option to disable crash sounds (and so code that detects crashes)
 - drawing dithered transparent objects fills z-buffer in the transparent parts
   and then the geometry behind it isn't drawn <- PARTIALLY FIXED, LOOKS GOOD
 - starting test replay two twice in a row breaks it
diff --git a/audio.h b/audio.h
index 7085859..77b6ab3 100644
--- a/audio.h
+++ b/audio.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ uint8_t LCR_audioGetNextSample(void)
     case LCR_SOUND_CRASH_SMALL: 
     case LCR_SOUND_CRASH_BIG:
     {
-      int limit = (LCR_audio.soundPlayed == LCR_SOUND_CRASH_BIG ? 256 : 128) - 
+      int limit = (LCR_audio.soundPlayed == LCR_SOUND_CRASH_BIG ? 256 : 96) - 
         (LCR_audio.soundPlayedFrame * 256) / LCR_AUDIO_CRASH_LEN;
 
       if (LCR_audio.frame % 2 || // lower frequency
diff --git a/racing.h b/racing.h
index f600074..ffeff7b 100644
--- a/racing.h
+++ b/racing.h
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ typedef int32_t LCR_GameUnit;  ///< abstract game unit
 #define LCR_CAR_DRIFT_THRESHOLD_1 (LCR_GAME_UNIT / 4)
 #define LCR_CAR_DRIFT_THRESHOLD_0 (LCR_GAME_UNIT / 200)
 
-#define LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_DIFF 25
-#define LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_THRESHOLD 70
+#define LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_SMALL 400
+#define LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_BIG 800
 
 // multipliers (in 8ths) of friction and acceleration on concrete:
 #define LCR_CAR_GRASS_FACTOR 5
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ struct
   TPE_Vec3 carOKPositions[LCR_CAR_JOINTS];
   uint8_t carNotOKCount;
 
+  uint16_t crashState;
+
   uint8_t playingReplay;
 } LCR_racing;
 
@@ -795,6 +797,20 @@ uint8_t _LCR_racingCollisionHandler(uint16_t b1, uint16_t j1, uint16_t b2,
 {
   // check which wheels are touching the ground.
 
+#if LCR_SETTING_CRASH_SOUNDS
+  TPE_Unit speed = TPE_vec3Len( // detect crashes
+      TPE_vec3Project(
+        TPE_vec3(
+          LCR_racing.carBody.joints[j1].velocity[0],
+          LCR_racing.carBody.joints[j1].velocity[1],
+          LCR_racing.carBody.joints[j1].velocity[2]),
+        TPE_vec3Minus(p,
+          LCR_racing.carBody.joints[j1].position)));
+
+  LCR_racing.crashState |= ((speed >= LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_BIG) << 1) |
+    (speed >= LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_SMALL);
+#endif
+
   if (j1 < 4) // wheel joint?
     LCR_racing.wheelCollisions |= 0x01 << j1;
 
@@ -872,6 +888,7 @@ void LCR_racingRestart(uint8_t replay)
   LCR_racing.carSpeeds[0] = 0;
   LCR_racing.carSpeeds[1] = 0;
   LCR_racing.carDrifting = 0;
+  LCR_racing.crashState = 0;
 
   // make the car body:
   TPE_makeCenterRectFull(LCR_racing.carJoints,
@@ -1339,14 +1356,14 @@ uint32_t LCR_racingStep(unsigned int input)
       LCR_racing.fanForce = 0;
   }
 
+#if LCR_SETTING_CRASH_SOUNDS
+  LCR_racing.crashState <<= 2;
+#endif
+
   LCR_LOG2("stepping physics (start)");
   TPE_worldStep(&(LCR_racing.physicsWorld));
   LCR_LOG2("stepping physics (end)");
 
-  int speedDiff = 
-    TPE_abs(LCR_racing.carSpeeds[0]) - 
-    TPE_abs(LCR_racing.carSpeeds[1]);
-
   LCR_racing.carSpeeds[1] = LCR_racing.carSpeeds[0];
 
   LCR_racing.carSpeeds[0] = (TPE_vec3Len(carVel) * LCR_GAME_UNIT)
@@ -1355,10 +1372,12 @@ uint32_t LCR_racingStep(unsigned int input)
   if (TPE_vec3Dot(carVel,carForw) < 0)
     LCR_racing.carSpeeds[0] *= -1;
 
-  if (speedDiff < -1 * LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_DIFF &&
-    TPE_abs(LCR_racing.carSpeeds[0]) <= LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_THRESHOLD)
-    result |= (speedDiff < -2 * LCR_CAR_CRASH_SPEED_DIFF) ?
-      LCR_RACING_EVENT_CRASH_BIG : LCR_RACING_EVENT_CRASH_SMALL;
+#if LCR_SETTING_CRASH_SOUNDS
+  if (LCR_racing.crashState == 1)
+    result |= LCR_RACING_EVENT_CRASH_SMALL;
+  else if (LCR_racing.crashState == 3)
+    result |= LCR_RACING_EVENT_CRASH_BIG;
+#endif
 
   _LCR_racingUpdateCarPosRot();
 
diff --git a/settings.h b/settings.h
index 9e1bbb5..2d80d38 100644
--- a/settings.h
+++ b/settings.h
@@ -225,4 +225,9 @@
   #define LCR_SETTING_CAR_RENDER_DISTANCE 25
 #endif
 
+#ifndef LCR_SETTING_CRASH_SOUNDS
+  /** Whether or not to detect crashes and play their sounds. */
+  #define LCR_SETTING_CRASH_SOUNDS 1
+#endif
+
 #endif // guard