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There's also new braking technology to automatically stop the car when it's about to hit something in front of it. (Of course this could lead to another car cra

There's also new braking technology to automatically stop the car when it's about to hit something in front of it. (Of course this could lead to another car crashing againt car nuber 1 if it doesn't carry the technology). Apart from that cars added "shock absorbency" in hoods and widened the space between the engine and the hood. But still, do people start to drive faster and closer to another because of the extra safety-features like airbags, ABS, safetly belts, roll-cages? Imagine a long spike shooting out of the logo on the steering wheel if you really hit something hard. That would greatly reduce accidents.

flexie 14y ago
Yes, some studies have shown that people take more chances when they feel more protected by safety measures. This is called risk compensation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation Still, less people are dying in road accidents now than before safety features were common.
nodata 14y ago
I think you're quoting Steven Landsburg: http://stuartbuck.blogspot.nl/2008/08/spikes-and-steering-wheels.html http://stuartbuck.blogspot.nl/2008/08/spikes-and-steering-wh... But remember this is a fallacy: http://forums.theregister.co.uk/post/259350 http://forums.theregister.co.uk/post/259350
- digitalengineer 14y ago
  Thank you for the links. There's a link to a great book in there: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Accidents-Prevent-J-J-Leeming/dp/1897856296 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Accidents-Prevent-J-J-Leeming/d... As a motorcycle driver I know I drive a lot more devensive when I'm on two wheels.
- rgbrenner 14y ago
  I think this is a better link to prove it's wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in_U.S._by_year http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in... Deaths in 1980: 51,091 Deaths in 2011: 32,367 And that's w/ 90m more people, and nearly double the number of miles driven. Clearly safety improvements DO work.
Swizec 14y ago
We had that from the 1900's until something like the 1960's. All it did was cause a lot of unnecessary deaths.
- Gravityloss 14y ago
  I've heard the argumentation that in developing countries the rate of death per kilometer driven or some such is currently the same as it was earlier in developed countries, despite better safety features in newer cars in developing countries. And that it's in part a cultural issue... I don't necessarily agree that it's everything but it's still interesting.
  - Swizec 14y ago
    You know, I can't possibly imagine why they'd have more deaths despite better cars ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9w7SODzoa8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9w7SODzoa8
barrkel 14y ago
Risk compensation isn't linear, and it can't be considered in isolation. If there was a long spike on the steering wheel, most likely it would be chopped off by end users; otherwise the vehicle wouldn't be driven at all. ABS is associated with a decrease in motorcycle injuries even though riders ride faster with it, especially in the wet. But ABS on a bike has a bigger value, because a slight slip on a bike is a very serious problem; a sliding front will cause an accident almost immediately, while a sliding rear when cornering may cause a serious high-side.

flexie 14y ago

Yes, some studies have shown that people take more chances when they feel more protected by safety measures. This is called risk compensation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_compensation Still, less people are dying in road accidents now than before safety features were common.

nodata 14y ago

I think you're quoting Steven Landsburg: http://stuartbuck.blogspot.nl/2008/08/spikes-and-steering-wheels.html http://stuartbuck.blogspot.nl/2008/08/spikes-and-steering-wh... But remember this is a fallacy: http://forums.theregister.co.uk/post/259350 http://forums.theregister.co.uk/post/259350

digitalengineer 14y ago
Thank you for the links. There's a link to a great book in there: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Accidents-Prevent-J-J-Leeming/dp/1897856296 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Accidents-Prevent-J-J-Leeming/d... As a motorcycle driver I know I drive a lot more devensive when I'm on two wheels.
rgbrenner 14y ago
I think this is a better link to prove it's wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in_U.S._by_year http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_vehicle_deaths_in... Deaths in 1980: 51,091 Deaths in 2011: 32,367 And that's w/ 90m more people, and nearly double the number of miles driven. Clearly safety improvements DO work.

Swizec 14y ago

We had that from the 1900's until something like the 1960's. All it did was cause a lot of unnecessary deaths.

Gravityloss 14y ago
I've heard the argumentation that in developing countries the rate of death per kilometer driven or some such is currently the same as it was earlier in developed countries, despite better safety features in newer cars in developing countries. And that it's in part a cultural issue... I don't necessarily agree that it's everything but it's still interesting.
- Swizec 14y ago
  You know, I can't possibly imagine why they'd have more deaths despite better cars ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9w7SODzoa8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9w7SODzoa8

barrkel 14y ago

Risk compensation isn't linear, and it can't be considered in isolation. If there was a long spike on the steering wheel, most likely it would be chopped off by end users; otherwise the vehicle wouldn't be driven at all. ABS is associated with a decrease in motorcycle injuries even though riders ride faster with it, especially in the wet. But ABS on a bike has a bigger value, because a slight slip on a bike is a very serious problem; a sliding front will cause an accident almost immediately, while a sliding rear when cornering may cause a serious high-side.