Car Safety Regulations Save Lives

Consumers get so accustomed to certain safety measures that they forget (at least, often I forget) that they are the result of government mandates, many of which were resisted mightily by the industry now required to obey them. The National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration has released this report detailing the number of lives saved in the U.S. by seat belt use, airbags, and other safety measures. In 2010 alone, seat belt use saved over 12,500 lives, frontal airbags saved more than 2300 lives, child car seats saved 300 children from death, and motorcyle helmets saved more than 1550 lives. Most of these statistics concern safety features that combine a government mandate and voluntary consumer action. The latter (for instance, seat belt use) often has been achieved only after a sustained government-sponsored public relations campaign.

Comments

[Mazda RX 8 For Sale]

Do the American have any car safety regulations like the UK MOT test?
The only examples of American cars I have is from those that shown on programmes in the Uk. Some seem to be real heaps, rusty with bits and bobs falling off. Some of the ones on Pimp My Ride are shocking, they have windows and doors missing!
Is it really Ok to be driving around in America in a car like that or is this artistic license on the part of the television show makers?
Do you ne

[Drop Suspension]

Read and the news, browse the web, learn from almost anything you can siphon information from. That's the way I develop my concern.

[Wooten, Kimbrough Normand, P.A.]

You are right to point out that there is rarely any attention given to the number of lives saved because of safety regulations. This report from the NHTSA proves the effectiveness of child restraints, seat belts and air bags for all motorists and passengers. However, it is rather discouraging to see the thousands of lives the agency says would have been saved with 100 percent use. The difference between the number of lives lost because of failure to wear a seat belt and these numbers of lives saved because of the use of restraints makes it inconceivable as to why any motorist would not buckle up.

[Miroslav Keller]

It’s a good thing that there are laws like these that strictly implement the use of motorcycle helmets and seatbelts. It will not only promote discipline among motorists; it can also prevent accidents and save lives. It would serve as a reminder to the citizens that it is their responsibility to follow these rules. To depart from these can be prejudicial to their lives.