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The argument here is the CAFE standards to increase fuel economy in automobiles, created during the oil shortages Carter years, did nothing to decrease consumer demand or consumption of gasoline. The one change CAFE did bring with it, the lighter vehicles created to achieve increased fuel efficiency have killed hundreds of thousands of people.
If you know someone who was killed in a car accident, the CAFE standard may have been a significant factor in the cause of death. These small economy cars are nothing but coffins on wheels.
According to the Brookings Institution, a 500-lb weight reduction of the average car increased annual highway fatalities by 2,200-3,900 and serious injuries by 11,000 and 19,500 per year. USA Today found that 7,700 deaths occurred for every mile per gallon gained in fuel economy standards. Smaller cars accounted for up to 12,144 deaths in 1997, 37% of all vehicle fatalities for that year. The National Academy of Sciences found that smaller, lighter vehicles "probably resulted in an additional 1,300 to 2,600 traffic fatalities in 1993."
The argument here is the CAFE standards to increase fuel economy in automobiles, created during the oil shortages Carter years, did nothing to decrease consumer demand or consumption of gasoline. The one change CAFE did bring with it, the lighter vehicles created to achieve increased fuel efficiency have killed hundreds of thousands of people.
If you know someone who was killed in a car accident, the CAFE standard may have been a significant factor in the cause of death. These small economy cars are nothing but coffins on wheels.
According to the Brookings Institution, a 500-lb weight reduction of the average car increased annual highway fatalities by 2,200-3,900 and serious injuries by 11,000 and 19,500 per year. USA Today found that 7,700 deaths occurred for every mile per gallon gained in fuel economy standards. Smaller cars accounted for up to 12,144 deaths in 1997, 37% of all vehicle fatalities for that year. The National Academy of Sciences found that smaller, lighter vehicles "probably resulted in an additional 1,300 to 2,600 traffic fatalities in 1993."
Actually that is only in the case of where a small car is involved in an accident with a large care or truck. But on the original claim; I saw an Austin Mini get into a head on with a midsized SUV Ford, guess which won and was still drivable and which driver was fine, you guessed it the driver driving the better built car, the Mini. The devil is in the details.
I am reminded of way back when Volkswagen first came to our shores. "They" said those little cars were nothing but coffins on wheels. If you got hit by a Cadillac or Buick or Oldsmobile etc. you were DEAD!
So, a VW dealer took some of the big cars to the salt flats and ran over them with Macks and Peterbilts and Kenworths, proving that the big cars were just as much of a death trap as the little ones.
By the way, "they" are pretty much the same people who said that the Jeep CJ would roll over if you made an abrupt right angle turn at over 30 MPH. "They" never did explain exactly WHY anybody would want or need to do that!
Drive defensively and with fore thought, and you won't have the accident. No problem.
The argument here is the CAFE standards to increase fuel economy in automobiles, created during the oil shortages Carter years, did nothing to decrease consumer demand or consumption of gasoline. The one change CAFE did bring with it, the lighter vehicles created to achieve increased fuel efficiency have killed hundreds of thousands of people.
If you know someone who was killed in a car accident, the CAFE standard may have been a significant factor in the cause of death. These small economy cars are nothing but coffins on wheels.
I've had a couple family members killed in car accidents. My aunt who was driving a 62 Falcon (pre-CAFE) and a nephew driving a Toyota (post CAFE). If all vehicles are lighter, then E=MC2 comes into play. Two light vehicles impacting expel far less energy than two heavy vehicles.
You can't argue with the data. Since 1969 highway deaths are falling. Lighter, better built cars with safety technologies combined with public awareness of driving under the influence, has made the roads far safer.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OICU812
The argument here is the CAFE standards to increase fuel economy in automobiles, created during the oil shortages Carter years, did nothing to decrease consumer demand or consumption of gasoline. The one change CAFE did bring with it, the lighter vehicles created to achieve increased fuel efficiency have killed hundreds of thousands of people.
If you know someone who was killed in a car accident, the CAFE standard may have been a significant factor in the cause of death. These small economy cars are nothing but coffins on wheels.
According to the Brookings Institution, a 500-lb weight reduction of the average car increased annual highway fatalities by 2,200-3,900 and serious injuries by 11,000 and 19,500 per year. USA Today found that 7,700 deaths occurred for every mile per gallon gained in fuel economy standards. Smaller cars accounted for up to 12,144 deaths in 1997, 37% of all vehicle fatalities for that year. The National Academy of Sciences found that smaller, lighter vehicles "probably resulted in an additional 1,300 to 2,600 traffic fatalities in 1993."
1) Saying smaller cars accounted for 37% of fatalities in 1997 is meaningless without knowing what percentage of total vehicle mileage driven 'smaller cars' represented.
2) Saying "lighter vehicles probably resulted in anything is totally meaningless, especially when talking about the year 1993 in 2014 when safety standards are considerably tougher
3) The line that told me this piece is just the O-P-I-N-I-O-N of a conservative hack writer is "Many of the new models from the late '70s onward more closely resembled go-carts -- and proved to be about as sturdy."
I don't think this twit would know a go-cart from the toilet where his writing deserves to be tossed.
This is yet another one of those conservative myths. Highway fatality rates have been going down for the last half century, including the time when CAFE regulations were imposed. We can attribute the decrease to a number of factors, which include
1) better vehicle design, such as crumple zones that absorb energy in a collision
2) greater use of safety belts
3) fitting of other safety equipment such as airbags
4) increased enforcement of DUI laws
This is yet another one of those conservative myths. Highway fatality rates have been going down for the last half century, including the time when CAFE regulations were imposed. We can attribute the decrease to a number of factors, which include
1) better vehicle design, such as crumple zones that absorb energy in a collision
2) greater use of safety belts
3) fitting of other safety equipment such as airbags
4) increased enforcement of DUI laws
This another attempt to politicize something as basic as highway safety. To frame it as a "conservative myth" is ridiculous.
Is there anything the left won't blame on the right, and vice versa?
The Highway Safety Act of 1966 was passed by a bi-partisan House.
Actually that is only in the case of where a small car is involved in an accident with a large care or truck. But on the original claim; I saw an Austin Mini get into a head on with a midsized SUV Ford, guess which won and was still drivable and which driver was fine, you guessed it the driver driving the better built car, the Mini. The devil is in the details.
Do you have a link to the actual Brookings Institution Study other than The American Thinkers interpretation.
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