4 ms·
yes, airbags and crumple zones do improve safety, but even those are not without negative consequences, like bigger, heavier vehicles (which is more dangerous t
by clairity 5y ago
yes, airbags and crumple zones do improve safety, but even those are not without negative consequences, like bigger, heavier vehicles (which is more dangerous to others) and higher sense of psychological safety leading to being less considerate, less attentive, and more reckless.
that's not to argue that those tradeoffs aren't net positive, but that they're still tradeoffs to be considered, rather than short-circuiting to "of course it's better!".
- notJim 5y agoDo you have any evidence for these claims? This just feels like luddism to me.
- pille 5y agoThe "bigger, heavier" part does indeed seem to be a tradeoff. It's been blamed for a significanted rise in pedestrian fatalities, even as vehicles get safer for the people inside. One source, just after a quick search: https://www.ghsa.org/resources/Pedestrians20 https://www.ghsa.org/resources/Pedestrians20
- dzhiurgis 5y agoI'd argue feeling safe when I drive is net positive for actual safety. Stressed drivers going to make way more errors.
- clairity 5y agoif you’re prone to being overwhelmed by stress while driving a machine that can potentially kill you, that’s a sign to get more training, not to mollify oneself with an illusion of safety. ignorance is not bliss in this case.
- ClumsyPilot 5y agoif you’re prone to stress while driving a machine that can potentially kill you, that’s a sign you are aware of your predicament
- throwaway0a5e 5y agoHave you ever seen how stressed out drivers behave? We've all seen that person in a Honda fit who's so terrified of being on the freeway during rush hour they're driving like an overloaded scrap hauler and generally causing a problem in whatever lane they're in. That doesn't make the roads safer.
- dzhiurgis 5y agoExactly this. I cannot sum this up better. In NZ the police fine such people occasionally, I think there was a case when one such driver caused massive traffic jam during national holiday.