Backseat Driver: The Role of Data in Great Car Safety Debates

The debate over whether to make automobiles safer has been going on for decades, with car safety advocates, manufacturers, and lawmakers in the US clashing over whether to make cars safer. Data from real car crashes have helped create the first vehicle safety standards, but until now, data have been in the backseat, merely supporting different points of view. Automobile safety expert Dr. Norma Faris Hubele delivers a lively discussion of the role data play in protecting you and your family on the road, gaining a greater appreciation for how a World War I pilots near-death experience birthed the US car safety movement, data from real car crashes helped create the first vehicle safety standards, a shift toward fuel-efficient cars affected fatality risk in the 1970s–1980s versus now, vehicle size has changed, and car safety rating systems empower consumers and motivate manufacturers. Federal regulators decide whether to issue a safety recall on your vehicle, and data's role is evolving with the advent of driver-assist and self-driving technologies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The safety of your family should never be a matter of debate. However, for decades, car safety advocates, manufacturers, and lawmakers in the United States have been engaged in heated discussions over how to make automobiles safer. Each side armed themselves with data, hoping to emerge victorious in the ongoing car safety debates. In this pursuit, crash statistics and the analysts who studied them played a significant role, shaping the history of automotive safety. Nevertheless, data always took a backseat, serving as mere support for different viewpoints. That is, until now.

In the realm of car safety, it is the value we place on every human life that truly matters. To shed light on this critical issue, automobile safety expert Dr. Norma Faris Hubele conducts a lively discussion exploring the role of data in safeguarding you and your family on the road. You will gain a deeper understanding of how:

A near-death experience during World War I by a pilot sparked the inception of the U.S. car safety movement.
Data from actual car crashes played a pivotal role in establishing the first vehicle safety standards.
A shift towards fuel-efficient cars in the 1970s and 1980s had a significant impact on fatality risk compared to today.
Vehicle size has evolved, presenting new challenges for drivers and other road users.
Car safety rating systems, even when limited, empower consumers and drive manufacturers to prioritize safety.
Federal regulators make the decision to issue a safety recall for your vehicle.
The role of data is evolving alongside the advent of driver-assist and self-driving technologies.

For further insights and information, you can visit the book's website: www.TheAutoProfessor.com/book [US only].

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367474072