Re: [AMC-list] Safety Weinie

[Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>]

The main link is here:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/809833.html

And the main PDF is here:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/pdf/809833Part1.pdf

I've been going through it, and it's pretty interesting. Page 227 of
the PDF (page 203 reading the bottom of the page) shows this: (The
first digits are the FMVSS, then a description, then the lives saved).
Lives Saved in 1960-2002
208/209/210 Safety belts 168,524
203/204 Energy-absorbing steering assemblies 53,017
206 Door locks, latches and hinges 28,902
201 Instrument panels 21,043
214 Side impact protection 14,703
105 Dual master cylinders/front disc brakes 13,053
208 Air bags (frontal) 12,074
212 Adhesive windshield bonding 6,710
213 Child safety seats 5,954
216 Roof crush resistance 3,466
108 Trailer conspicuity tape 1,105

For 2002 alone, it shows:
Lives Saved in 1960-2002
208/209/210 Safety belts 168,524
203/204 Energy-absorbing steering assemblies 53,017
206 Door locks, latches and hinges 28,902
201 Instrument panels 21,043
214 Side impact protection 14,703
105 Dual master cylinders/front disc brakes 13,053
208 Air bags (frontal) 12,074
212 Adhesive windshield bonding 6,710
213 Child safety seats 5,954
216 Roof crush resistance 3,466
108 Trailer conspicuity tape 1,105


Reading through the report, is does break down percentages by each
regulation. But basically, good belts and  good brakes are the heavy
hitters that can be easily addressed. Locks and latches, collapsible
columns, dash padding and side impact protection are good - but would
be harder to do (I think they would, I don't know).

Anyway, some of these I can do. So I will do them. Others may be beyond me.


On Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 4:09 AM, tom jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> I have always wondered at the "return on investment" angle on the
> incremental safety features. It's hard to argue that many of them are
> totally worthwhile. The downside is heavy cars (an Accord weights more than
> my Classic Wagon!), complexity, cost. Surprisingly, reliability is not an
> issue, cars come with 6-digit odometers and don't drop dead at 100K.
>
> There sare things that are clearly worth it and zero impact. Dual braking,
> seat belts (ask any racer -- they IMPROVE car control), good rubber, ...
>
> Collapsible steering columns, side-impact bars, etc -- low cost/impact, what
> percentage of serious injury/fatality do they statistically improve? 10%?
> 1%? 0.1% I have no idea.
>
> I suspect current cars but minus say side impact air bags would not worsen
> fatality/injury by 1% nationwide, but the U.S. has lost the ability to say
> "enough!" and insurance companies have huge influence on this stuff.
>
>
> An article on this stuff would be GREAT!!
>
>
>
>
> PS: I would not want to be a kid today, parents act like there's danger at
> every corner. It's hard to believe it's any worse today than it was when I
> was a kid.
>
>  I routinely ask all our incoming grad students (adults!) if they were
> allowed to carry a knife, leatherman, whatever as a kid, say 12, 13, 14, 15
> -- with rare exceptions -- the answer is NO. Sad.
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