BEYOND AUTOCRACY: THE PUBLIC'S ROLE IN REGULATING THE AUTO

Government decisions about automobiles are seen to be based on inadequate, skewed information and made with little regard for the societal effects of cars or highways. A long-term adequately funded commitment to support public participation in transportation decision making is advocated as a solution. For example, it is felt that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should expand its demonstration program to support public participation in the rulemaking process. The government should also encourage the development of a corps of technicians who can independently evaluate such matters as automobile safety, emissions control, fuel economy, public transportation, and transportation planning and land use. The magnitude of the auto industry's lobbying effort is discussed; much of its influence is based on extensive public relations and advertising campaigns. In the automotive arena, special interests have the field virtually to themselves. Although many public interest and environmental organizations could justifiably be involved with transportation issues, none of the major organizations has a funded program dealing with the automobile. The four major studies are cited which analyze the social impact of the automobile; each of these was heavily represented by special interests. It is acknowledged that the automobile as a consumer product is slowly coming under reasonable regulation. The regulatory process is discussed as being hampered by the illusion that a complex social force such as the automobile can be productively governed by regulating only its component characteristics. The societal costs affecting health, the environment, and urban economies are still poorly understood. The public interest community can contribute to a holistic approach to regulating the auto industry by more actively engaging in transportation politics, in particular by working for the internalization of the societal costs of the automobile and the highway environment.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Also published in HS-028 918, "Government, Technology, and the Future of the Automobile," New York, 1980 p 346-64. Presented at Harvard Business School Symposium on Government, Technology, and the Automotive Future, Boston, 19-20 October 1978.
  • Corporate Authors:

    McGraw-Hill, Incorporated

    330 West 42nd Street
    New York, NY  United States  10036
  • Authors:
    • Ketcham, B
    • Pinkwas, S
  • Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 19 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00393049
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-028 939
  • Files: HSL, USDOT
  • Created Date: Feb 28 1985 12:00AM