The answer to the problem of Toyotas running amok, says Ralph Nader in a Los Angeles Times op-ed today?
Choose one response:
1. More regulation.
2. More regulation.
3. More regulation.
4. All of the above.
He observes that the budget of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declined to half what it once was, thereby making disasters like this more or less inevitable. Yet he also admits that every year cars get safer and safer. They were getting safer when NHTSA’s budget was growing, and safer when NHTSA’s budget was shrinking. Some people might say that indicates there are factors at play other than federal regulation, but not Ralph Nader.
I have repeatedly blogged on the Toyota witch hunt and have a forthcoming article showing it’s exactly that. But then again, Nader knows all about witch hunts.
Nader came to fame with his 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed, in which he hounded the sporty little Chevy Corvair (see inset) into extinction, claiming it had a defective rear suspension making it prone to flip. But two separate NHTSA studies later found it was as safe as any other car on the road at the time.
Thanks, Mr. Nader.
RSS Updates 
RSS E-Mail Updates 
Twitter 
Facebook 
CEI.org 
WorkPlaceChoice.org 
GlobalWarming.org 
CEI On Demand Video 
Liberty Week Podcast 
{ 1 comment }
Excuse me? Nader is responsible for seat belts…unless you didn't know that…maybe because they don't have his name on them you don't get the pervasive positive impact Nader had on auto safety in the last 45 years. The Corvair was a moving death machine, not unlike many cars of its era. To say that 2 NHTSA studies "found that is was safe as any other acr on the road at the time" isn't saying much. Perhaps many more different models should have been removed from production. Critical thinking aside…..
I do agree with you this Toyota thing is a witch hunt. Maybe you as a journalist can research and expose any possible influence in media coverage or perhaps even staging from the other auto companies, chiefly the US headed corporations. Toyota is probably the most efficient car maker in history…hence its astounding sales, resale value, safety, cost of ownership, cust satisifaction etc.
HOw many people did the Ford Explorer rollover issue kill? Was it the tires? you hardly hear about that in comparison. STuck accelerators get a lot more attention than bad tires and cars just "rolling" over.
My opinion is Toyota was too successful and too non-american..as in if we can't control it or run it (our govt) let's try to kill it.
What do you think?
Comments on this entry are closed.