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> If driving/vehicles/roads were held to the same or a similar standards to aircraft there might be fewer accidents and deaths today. Vehicles are already regu

> If driving/vehicles/roads were held to the same or a similar standards to aircraft there might be fewer accidents and deaths today. Vehicles are already regulated with regards to safety features; seat-belts, airbags, anti-lock braking systems etc. These have and do prevent many deaths and serious injuries. But holding cars to the same mechanical rigors as airplanes would make them neigh unaffordable for most, to say nothing of yearly inspections many states have which is often considered nothing more than a government subsidy to mechanic shops. It is also entirely unnecessary, as when a car has a mechanical failure, it can just roll to a stop. As for preventing accidents in the first place, car crashes, as with plane crashes, are caused overwhelmingly by operator error.

walrus01 8y ago
> But holding cars to the same mechanical rigors as airplanes would make them neigh unaffordable for most, to say nothing of yearly inspections many states have which is often considered nothing more than a government subsidy to mechanic shops. It is also entirely unnecessary, as when a car has a mechanical failure, it can just roll to a stop. For engines, yes, but it's scary how many people don't maintain their brakes properly. Or otherwise drive vehicles that are unsafe to be on the road. https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/ There's a reason why many states, particularly northern and road salt states, have mandatory inspections. There's also very good reasons why state patrols and the DOT do mandatory inspections of larger cargo trucks. Obviously a car does not need to be maintained to the same standard and expense as a light aircraft. If you fuck up your own clutch it's nobody's problem but your own wallet.
- furgooswft13 8y ago
  Brakes and tires are two legitimate inspection points that often get neglected by drivers. Still, brake inspections especially, are very often abused by mechanic shop and/or unreasonable regulation terms to force car owners to replace far before is actually necessary. At least in my experience, it seems every single year the shop states they won't pass the car unless some of the brakes are replaced. I suspect in this case they are just bald-face lying, as recently I balked at yet another ~$600 maintenance charge to pass a routine inspection, took the car to a friends shop out of town, and was able to conclude that the original shop never even checked the brakes, as the wheels took _a lot_ of force to remove once the lug nuts were off. Similarly with emissions checks. It often turns into nothing more than a yearly tax on your vehicle and does nothing to improve anyone's safety.
  - SAI_Peregrinus 8y ago
    Some states require the testers and the repair shops to be separate businesses.
    - HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
      Costs less than $200 to setup an LLC around here. Not a major obstacle.
mhneu 8y ago
But holding cars to the same mechanical rigors as airplanes would make them neigh unaffordable for most That's why most states have an emissions test (to address the negative externality that individual drivers don't feel a cost to emit pollutants, but society does pay that cost) and a safety test. Most states do not have a general mechanical test. (The definition of what part of 'mechanical' is also 'safety' is not a bright line, so if you're arguing the safety tests sometimes go too far, maybe that's right -- we could ask an actuary who has the data I suppose.)
anfilt 8y ago
Well consumer cars do not have 5 point harnesses, and most cars don't even have roll cage or roll resistant frame. We use a 3 point seat belt out of convenience, and we let people drive on freeways with said cars. Also don't install a 5 point harness without a proper roll cage you will be asking for trouble.

walrus01 8y ago

> But holding cars to the same mechanical rigors as airplanes would make them neigh unaffordable for most, to say nothing of yearly inspections many states have which is often considered nothing more than a government subsidy to mechanic shops. It is also entirely unnecessary, as when a car has a mechanical failure, it can just roll to a stop. For engines, yes, but it's scary how many people don't maintain their brakes properly. Or otherwise drive vehicles that are unsafe to be on the road. https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/ There's a reason why many states, particularly northern and road salt states, have mandatory inspections. There's also very good reasons why state patrols and the DOT do mandatory inspections of larger cargo trucks. Obviously a car does not need to be maintained to the same standard and expense as a light aircraft. If you fuck up your own clutch it's nobody's problem but your own wallet.

furgooswft13 8y ago
Brakes and tires are two legitimate inspection points that often get neglected by drivers. Still, brake inspections especially, are very often abused by mechanic shop and/or unreasonable regulation terms to force car owners to replace far before is actually necessary. At least in my experience, it seems every single year the shop states they won't pass the car unless some of the brakes are replaced. I suspect in this case they are just bald-face lying, as recently I balked at yet another ~$600 maintenance charge to pass a routine inspection, took the car to a friends shop out of town, and was able to conclude that the original shop never even checked the brakes, as the wheels took _a lot_ of force to remove once the lug nuts were off. Similarly with emissions checks. It often turns into nothing more than a yearly tax on your vehicle and does nothing to improve anyone's safety.
- SAI_Peregrinus 8y ago
  Some states require the testers and the repair shops to be separate businesses.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
    Costs less than $200 to setup an LLC around here. Not a major obstacle.

mhneu 8y ago

But holding cars to the same mechanical rigors as airplanes would make them neigh unaffordable for most That's why most states have an emissions test (to address the negative externality that individual drivers don't feel a cost to emit pollutants, but society does pay that cost) and a safety test. Most states do not have a general mechanical test. (The definition of what part of 'mechanical' is also 'safety' is not a bright line, so if you're arguing the safety tests sometimes go too far, maybe that's right -- we could ask an actuary who has the data I suppose.)

anfilt 8y ago

Well consumer cars do not have 5 point harnesses, and most cars don't even have roll cage or roll resistant frame. We use a 3 point seat belt out of convenience, and we let people drive on freeways with said cars. Also don't install a 5 point harness without a proper roll cage you will be asking for trouble.