Car-Wreck Regs

Forbes ^ | 7/1/2009 | Steve Forbes

[bruinbirdman]

The almost mystical belief in the power of government dictates to solve our problems is no better illustrated than by the President's recent unveiling of his "radical" changes in fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks. U.S. automakers are to achieve an astounding mileage average of 35.5mpg by 2016. The purpose is to improve the environment and make us less dependent on foreign oil. The impact will be more far-reaching and consequential--and not at all benign.

Let's be frank. These rules will mean greater carnage on our highways. We've seen this horror movie before, when standards were first enacted in the mid-1970s. A 2002 National Research Council study found that those Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rules contributed to about 2,000 additional deaths per year because cars were made smaller and with lighter materials. Why should the result be any different this time?

Advocates say that by forcing automakers to reach these goals by 2016, buyers will be pushed more and more into hybrids or electric cars; thus, over time everyone will be driving smaller vehicles. So what's the problem? The problem is that almost half of vehicular accidents (and 51% of crash deaths) involve only one car or truck rather than a multi-car collision--that is, one vehicle hitting a tree, telephone pole, bridge abutment or something else.

Size and safety go together—almost one-half of accidents involve a single vehicle.

Even with sales subsidies from Uncle Sam, alternative cars like hybrids are going to cost more money than their traditional counterparts. This means people will keep their current clunkers one, two or three years longer. As Robert Grady, who helped draft the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and who is a former trustee of the Environmental Defense Fund, said in a Wall Street Journal article,

[Wooly]

It is only a matter of time before they pass a law outlawing all computers except for Macs, all phones except for iPhones, all cars except for Toyota Prissy clones. and whatever else the self appointed gods (small g) see as the way you must live or how much money they get from scumbag CEOs and activist groups.

[bruinbirdman]

"all cars except for Toyota Prissy clones."

Here's a good one for you, straight from the IRS but you hear it here first.

Speaking of Toyota Prius, there is an income tax rebate, from the bottom line, for alternate fuel vehicles, .

But you can't get one for Prius. Once the model has sold 60,000 units in one year in the U.S., it is off the list.

Go to IRS.gov and search "vehicle rebate".

yitbos

[count-your-change]

The golf cart industry is about to boom as they'll become the passenger car. And everyone should keep their old riding mowers, without the blade they'll be the new SUVs.

[OCC]

A 55 MPH (or less) national speed limit can’t be far behind.

[bruinbirdman]

"And everyone should keep their old riding mowers"

Gasoline powered mowers soon to be outlawed as polluters.

In fact, in Clark County, NV, you can trade in a gas mower to the Health District for an electric one.

yitbos

[familyop]

They won’t force us to buy.

[count-your-change]

Maybe they can be refitted with solar power!