AUTO SAFETY NEEDS A NEW ROAD MAP

SINCE 1967 MODIFICATIONS AIMED AT MAKING CRASHES MORE "SURVIVABLE" HAVE BEEN AT LEAST PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A DECLINE IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE SEVERITY OF INJURIES. THE NEXT MAJOR STEP BEING PROPOSED IN THE OCCUPANT-PACKAGING APPROACH TO AUTO SAFETY IS THE AIR BAG. IT HAS MUCH TO RECOMMEND IT, BUT NO ONE CAN SAY WITH ENTIRE CONFIDENCE WHETHER ITS DEVELOPMENT IS FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO WARRANT ADOPTION FOR 1976 MODELS. A ONE-YEAR TRIAL INVOLVING 20,000 CARS MIGHT AT LEAST SERVE TO INDICATE HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL TESTING IS NEEDED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IT IS TIME TO MOVE BEYOND OCCUPANT PACKAGING AND PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON OTHER PARTS OF THE SYSTEM - ROADWAYS AND PEOPLE. ELIMINATION OF ROADSIDE CRASH HAZARDS, INCLUDING INSTALLATION OF BREAK-AWAY SIGN SUPPORTS, MAKES SENSE. SO DOES MORE ATTENTION TO THE CLARITY AND PLACEMENT OF SIGNS AND DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER VEHICLE LIGHTING. EVEN SAFE-DRIVING CAMPAIGNS CAN BE USED PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE DIRECTED TOWARD EDUCATION RATHER THAN SIMPLE EXHORTATION. /AUTHOR/

• Authors:
  • BOWEN, W
• Publication Date: 1972-4

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 98-101
• Serial:
  • Fortune Magazine
  • Volume: 85
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Time Incorporated

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Hazards; Prevention; Safety; Street lighting; Traffic signs
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221695
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 9 1972 12:00AM