Auto Safety
Cars are dangerous. Over 30,000 people die every year on America’s roadways, and hundreds of thousands more are injured. But before the invention of safety features like airbags, head restraints, seatbelts, and anti-lock brakes, it was far worse. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, created in 1966, established regulations that forced industry to adopt many of these features. The agency also issues recalls for defective or dangerous automobile models.
Commentary
Why We Had To Regulate The Auto Industry
Cry Wolf Quotes
GM urges that the passive restraint requirement be eliminated…There is an immediate need to avoid the sharp economic impediment that these requirements…would place on the domestic car market’s recovery.
Many of the temporary standards are unreasonable, arbitrary and technically unfeasible . . . If we can’t meet them when they are published we’ll have to close down.
Shoulder harnesses and head rests are complete wastes of money.
From a commercial standpoint in a competitive marketplace [safety devices such as the turn signal and the seat belt must be optional] until a very high proportion of the customers select the item or unless there are compelling reasons for standard installation.
Related Laws and Rules
Evidence
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Blind Spot: The Big Three's Attack on the Global Warming Treaty
eleased during the controversy over the Kyoto Treaty, this study is a serious policy paper, exploring the intersections between transit policy and global warming. It fairly establishes the Big Three have as long history of stubborn obstructionism. (They don't like anyone telling them what to do.)
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Industry Opposition to Government Regulation
The real costs of specific regulations, in chart form.
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Mandatory Seatbelt Laws Work
A detailed description of the positive effects of mandatory state seat belt laws.
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Experts Claim the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) Saves Lives and Money
Safety experts make the case for the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Backgrounders & Briefs
Good Rules: Ten Stories Of Successful Regulation
Demos looks at ten laws and rules that we take for granted.
Resources
Consumer Federation of America defends the consumer interest in fields ranging from housing and financial services to food safety.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is the agency that oversees auto and highway safety regulations, auto recalls, and CAFE standards.
Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety is an alliance of consumer, health and safety groups and insurance companies and agents working together to make America's roads safer.
The Center for Auto Safety was founded by Ralph Nader in 1970, and has advocated for auto safety and consumer rights ever since.
