4 ms·

US vehicle import laws are incredibly arcane. Ask any tuner who has considered importing a Japanese car. There is a huge amount of money involved in making a ca

US vehicle import laws are incredibly arcane. Ask any tuner who has considered importing a Japanese car. There is a huge amount of money involved in making a car safe for the US and having the appropriate tests administered.

microcolonel 9y ago
Right, but coliveira didn't mention import. I for one would love to own a Hilux instead of a Tacoma, but if Toyota made a Hilux in NA then there would be no rule that restricts you from it. I agree that the legal standards for occupant safety are far too stringent, I feel like occupant safety should be an optional feature (especially for people who drive in conditions where you're either guaranteed to die no matter what, or guaranteed not to collide).
wallace_f 9y ago
Yes, exactly. As a matter of fact they aren't just arcane, but often outright bad. For all the grand standing and virtue signaling our gov does around the world on the issue of free trade, we sometimes turn around and impose some unusually bad or even draconian laws against it, which doesn't make the situation any better. Just one example, because of the Chicken Tax there is a 25% tariff on light trucks. These laws extend not just to autos and auto parts, but to things like cheese, shoes, etc. Because of that + IIHS safety requirements, you see the 4-star Aus. ANCAP rated Hiace's commonly all over the world, except in the USA. Honestly, I would be pretty interested in if someone has estimated lives saved over cost Of safety features in vehicles. One example might be b/w the likes of a Hiace and an NV cargo van, or a Tacoma vs a Hilux. Divide that by cost across industry adoption of higher safety standards and see what it is per life or limb saved. I would imagine it is a relatively high, expensive fruit on the tree of saving lives.

4 ms·

US vehicle import laws are incredibly arcane. Ask any tuner who has considered importing a Japanese car. There is a huge amount of money involved in making a ca

by drawnwren 9y ago

microcolonel 9y ago
Right, but coliveira didn't mention import. I for one would love to own a Hilux instead of a Tacoma, but if Toyota made a Hilux in NA then there would be no rule that restricts you from it. I agree that the legal standards for occupant safety are far too stringent, I feel like occupant safety should be an optional feature (especially for people who drive in conditions where you're either guaranteed to die no matter what, or guaranteed not to collide).
wallace_f 9y ago
Yes, exactly. As a matter of fact they aren't just arcane, but often outright bad. For all the grand standing and virtue signaling our gov does around the world on the issue of free trade, we sometimes turn around and impose some unusually bad or even draconian laws against it, which doesn't make the situation any better. Just one example, because of the Chicken Tax there is a 25% tariff on light trucks. These laws extend not just to autos and auto parts, but to things like cheese, shoes, etc. Because of that + IIHS safety requirements, you see the 4-star Aus. ANCAP rated Hiace's commonly all over the world, except in the USA. Honestly, I would be pretty interested in if someone has estimated lives saved over cost Of safety features in vehicles. One example might be b/w the likes of a Hiace and an NV cargo van, or a Tacoma vs a Hilux. Divide that by cost across industry adoption of higher safety standards and see what it is per life or limb saved. I would imagine it is a relatively high, expensive fruit on the tree of saving lives.