I wouldn't say we just "let very many people die". Vehicle emissions have improved dramatically over time[1] and will likely continue to improve. Unlike asbest

I wouldn't say we just "let very many people die". Vehicle emissions have improved dramatically over time[1] and will likely continue to improve. Unlike asbestos, banning cars cold turkey would have had too large an impact on society. Could we have tried to improve car emissions quicker? Yes, but just like the asbestos industry fought regulation, the car industry did too. Yet still, as anyone who has tried to breathe in a major American city can tell you, things have gotten better [1] http://theenergycollective.com/jamescoan/85164/vehicle-emissions-standards-regulatory-success-story http://theenergycollective.com/jamescoan/85164/vehicle-emiss...