Take The Auto Safety Rorschach Test!
March 19th, 2023 7:33 PM
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These two graphs preface NHTSA’s recent Vehicle Safety and Fuel Economy Rulemaking and Research Priority Plan [ PDF] for the 2011-2013 period.
What does the data tell you? What’s a safety regulator to do? Oh, and you might want to look at this graph before you answer…
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If you graph average engine horsepower over the same period as the average fatalities per 100m miles graph, I think you'll find there is a clear inverse relationship between the engine horsepower of the average car on the road and fatalities. Therefore the logical approach is to legislate a doubling of engine horsepower by, let's say 2025. Sure the more powerful motors will add some additional cost to the price of a car, but if that's what it takes to keep the roads safe, then I'm willing to do my part.
Government agency out looking for problems to solve. What could possibly go wrong?
Obviously, the solution is driver education, teaching people to drive defensively, avoiding collisions with other cars or stationary objects and driving slowly enough and carefully enough to avoid rollovers. Just as obviously, we're going to get collision avoidance devices, more airbags, backup cameras, stronger roofs, crash cushions around every roadside object, center-of-gravity regulations for carmakers and changes to controls and drivers' seating that attempt to make driving idiot-proof. All because the government regulators refuse to recognize the truism that if you try to make something idiot-proof, Mother Nature will produce a bigger idiot.
My comment is awaiting moderation. Apparently I used a trigger word. I'm a retired transportation engineer and programmer and have neither the time nor inclination to figure out what that word is, or put up with programmed filters. Aside from a little sarcasm, I'm a moderate person and don't want to be moderated any further. Cancel that "awaiting moderation" comment.