Political and societal attitudes around automobile safety standards were still evolving during this era. From the time the first automobile was built in 1893 through the 1920s, many attempts were made at controlling deaths and injuries. However, many regulations failed to pass because they conflicted with social values that were developing in American society with respect to the automobile. The public seemed to be satisfied with the level of safety, leaving manufacturers to focus on public demand for more efficient and affordable vehicles. With the exception of some safety critics, the general consensus was that automobile safety was the responsibility of the driver. This attitude relegated automobile safety to secondary importance and it remained …show more content…
Ford tested the Pinto in 1970 and the result was the same. Ford found the Pinto was only capable of passing the test with vehicle modifications, the cheapest of which would be to place a rubber bladder in the gas tank. The Pinto fuel system design placed the fuel tank behind the rear axle, instead of above it, making it more prone to being struck during a crash. Other aspects of the design of the vehicle enhanced the danger: the rear of the vehicle was “soft” and collapsed easily on impact; the gas tank was separated from the rear axle by only nine inches; bolts in the differential were positioned in a way to puncture the fuel tank; and the fuel filler pipe could easily disconnect from the tank during an impact. These design features combined to make the vehicle vulnerable to a quick loss of all fuel during an impact, making highly susceptible to fires. In rear impact accidents at over 40 MPH, the vehicle damage could be so extensive to the vehicle’s doors that the occupants may be unable to exit the vehicle. It’s easy to see why the vehicle was eventually considered by many to be a death
In 1974 Congress passed school bus safety legislation, three years before the Carrollton school bus was built. Manufactures, like Ford Motor Company, managed to delay the implementation of automotive safety standards, including those relating to school-bus safety. In 1971, President of Ford Motor at the time, Lee Iacocca, was known to have lobbied President Richard Nixon to put off costly new rules for cars. He was quoted as saying, “Safety has really killed all of our business. He could have also been lobbying for the Ford Pinto, which was surrounded by much controversy due to the placement of its gas tank.
What makes you love the car that you drive in? Could it be multiple factors such as the color, the amount of miles you get per gallon, the number of people that can fit into it, or even how much storage it has? Buying a car makes you feel like a new person, the ability to transport from one place to another and getting to places a lot quicker than the train or bus makes life a lot easier. But does buying a car mean you’re technically safe from the all the dangers that the road ahead brings to you? The one thing that people don’t look for in a car is the amount of safety that car gives to you and every person that drives in. In the book Unsafe At Any Speed, author Ralph Nader discusses the dangers that automobiles not only bring to people that are driving within the car but he also discusses the dangers that the cars bring to the environment.
A car with good handling and stability is much safer to drive than a poorly designed one. This is because it grips better and is more responsive.
During the 1960's the demand for sub-compact cars was rising on the market. Ford Motor Company, in competition with the foreign market, decided to introduce the Ford Pinto. The Ford Pinto was going to be the new wave for the Ford Company, but it was soon discovered that numerous problems existed. For example, the time that it took to manufacture an automobile was down from three and a half years to just over two years. Before production, however, the engineers at Ford discovered a major flaw in the cars design. In nearly all rear-end crash test collisions the Pinto's fuel system would rupture extremely easily (The Ford Pinto, n.d.). Other problems that were discovered compounded the problem that caused the fires. These included the gas tank being about six inches from the flimsy bumpers, the backend not containing rear sub frame members, and doors tending to jam shut in an accident. The fuel filler tube was prone to separate and create spillage (Alfred, n.d.).
Longtime mechanic Carlos Contreras says, "a million things can go wrong when working on a car." And a lot of them hurt like heck (Woolston, Chris. Car Mechanics. Healthday, n.d. Web.). Whether you’re in car restoration or own an auto shop, safety in the workshop is always the most important. Keeping yourself, your friends, your family, your customers and any other people safe amongst the dangers of motor vehicle repair is something you should always consider. Injuries occur on a daily basis in the workshop. Safety is the number one issue everyone should be concerned with, mechanic or not. One of the OSHA standards is regularly violated by shops and mechanics is the right to know the standard. This policy is depicts the use of potentially hazardous chemicals which is a very common occurrence in the automotive business. It simply requires that employees be notified of the possible dangers of any of the chemicals they are using. OSHA also insists that employees have a right to know how they might be affected by chemicals in the shop (Ray, Linda. Work. Chron, n.d. Web.). The right to know standard requires labeling all chemicals, and including lists with information, training for employees in use of the chemicals and a plan that outlines how the auto shop plans to follow the right procedures. Another subject would be the general protection of workers. Many auto shops also violate another OSHA regulation by not providing adequate safety equipment for the workers. Auto shops are required to have plans and safety equipment that can be dealt by the hazards that many employees are exposed to at work shop (Ray, Linda. Work. Chron, n.d. Web.). For example,...
Teens need to be taught that driving is a task that is complex and demanding. Parents know how much experience a young driver has, and they know exactly how inconvenient it is when they have to drive with their teen everywhere while they have their permit. Teens tend to cause most traffic accidents in adults’ eyes. They are not experienced yet, and often fail to pay attention to others on the road. They often think of a car as being some type of toy, but they do not know how powerful it really is. The driver education programs must be strengthened in order to make sure that students really have safer habits, behind the wheel experience, and by having a better understanding of all the laws on the road.
Ever since the invention of the automobile, numerous efforts have been employed to try and improve its safety features. Judging by the current statistics, one could argue that driving has so far turned out to be a risky business. In actual fact, people of all ages and social status are considered to be in control of lethal weapons whenever they have to drive. According to the National Safety Council, it is estimated that more than 41,000 people lose their lives in road accidents annually and no less than 2 million more suffer from serious life threatening injuries (2009). Furthermore, it is estimated that at least 50% of the people killed in road accidents is as a result of their failure to adhere to safety measures such as wearing seatbelts while driving, driving under the influence, or careless driving (Ingalls, “Defensive Driving Strategies”). As an effect, huge losses occur with respect to life, injuries sustained, and damage to property.
Automobile accidents happen all around us. We see cars in the middle of the road after just rear ending each other. We see cars driving around town with big dents in them. Do you ever stop to wonder how car accidents happen? Physics; that’s how they happen. There are several aspects of physics that apply to automobile accidents.
...ture a risk-taking species. In ancient times we took risks just to eat. Later we took huge risks by setting out in little wooden ships to explore the earth's surface. We continued as we sought to fly, travel faster than the speed of sound and to head off into space. We rely on increasingly more complex equipment and constantly strive to design and manufacture faster and even more elaborate devices. It goes without saying that every effort is made to ensure our "safety"; to keep us from harm or danger. Every time you slide behind the wheel of your vehicle you are taking a risk. Driving is the riskiest activity in our lives. It is an inherently "unsafe" environment. The most perfect vehicles on the best designed highways on beautiful sunny days driven by fallible human beings crash into each other. The only way to drive "safely" (as we are all admonished to do!) is to learn more about the process. Learn more about your vehicle and how to maintain it; learn how to use your eyes to look far down the road; learn to spot problems before they happen; and also learn to deal with emergency situations. In most cases it's the human element that fails. After all, safe is only as safe does.
Defensive driving can save lives. It can turn a nonchalant call home into a terrifying call home. It is making the choice between stopping at a stop sign or stopping someone’s life. Defensive driving should be a part of everyone’s daily driving routine. If you practice defensive driving you can save yourself time, money, and a lot of headaches. It also benefits you in more ways than one.
329) There was not one specific person who "invented the automobile," but, there were many people who contributed to the invention of the automobile.(Ingrassia, 5) (Boyne, 31) These people include Isaac Newton, who developed a power carriage in the fourteen twenties, and Joseph Cugnot, who built the first steam powered automobile in seventeen sixty nine. The first American to develop an automobile was Nathan Redd.(Brown, 329) The use of the automobile in the United States became common due to the convenience and reliability of a quick, easy to operate source of transportation. The American people began to build their homes further from their jobs, and further from civilization because they could commute back and forth much more quickly.(Simanaitis, 337) The convenience, reliability, and easy commute were only a few positive effects of the development of the automobile in the United States. The invention of the automobile also directly stimulated the economical growth and success of the United States.
Teenagers are getting back on the roads and behind the wheel meaning the is a higher risk of accidents. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in 15-to 20-year olds. Automakers are creating ways to make their automobiles safer in order to reduce these deaths. Teenage drivers are inexperienced and need the extra protection to keep them safe if an incident was to occur. Automobile safety features are necessary for the teenage driver to stay protected and alert.
Think for a second here, what do you use almost every day to get to where you need to go? An automobile is probably what you are thinking of because just about everyone has one. Automobiles have become so common; nine out of every ten families in the United States own some type of vehicle. Now Imagine going through everyday life without one it would be nearly impossible! Automobiles have had a very positive impact on the world and on many people’s lives. However they have also taken quite a negative effect on the world and in life. Automobiles make it very easy to get to and from where you are going. Although automobiles have polluted the world and have taken lots of natural resources to keep going they are still a nice luxury many cannot live without. Automobiles are very reliable if they are kept in good condition and would not have to rely on public transportation.
We have all heard the excuses before, "It's uncomfortable, I'm only going around the corner", I'd rather be thrown out of a car than be stuck in a seatbelt," and my favorite, "I'm a good driver I don't need to wear one." Well you may be a good driver but there are situations beyond your control such as bad weather, road conditions and not to mention other drivers that can affect your safety. Seat belts can mean the difference between life and death in an auto accident. Wearing a seat belt every time you enter a vehicle is not only the smart thing to do it is the right thing because it saves lives, it's the law and it will save you money.
Richard Petty once said “You’ll got home safe, so drive safe, and stay safe.” Being a racing legend, he is an advocate for safe driving to minimise the cases of road crushes that have been on the rise. He double up as the chairman of the Veterans’ Safe Driving Initiative, the initiative is aimed at guiding the veterans returning from deployment on safe driving tips. It is necessarily important since the infrastructure has changed over time. Another initiative is being run in Minnesota where the teens are guided on the important safe driving tips. Study shows that more crushes are likely to occur in teen driving than veteran driving. It is also evident that young drivers are more likely to cause a crush within six months of passing the driving test and young male are worse than the females in the field.