Unsafe At Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile

by Ralph Nader

Book Overview

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• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B000HX5NAC
• Release Date: January 1973
• Publisher: Bantam First Edition Thus edition
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The Crusade for Auto Safety

The first section tells about the events since this book was published in 1965. Cars were built without any safety standards or to keep repair costs low (p.42). Replacement parts were big business (p.lxxiv). [They still are; note the placement of rear lights at the edge.] There was an increased rate of death and injuries from accidents (p.xlv). Auto manufacturers conspired to prevent pollution controls (p.lxix). The "sporty Corvair" had problems that were due to its design and cost cutting (Chapter 1). Quality control did not catch the known problems. Car magazines (and others) depend on advertising to survive (p.17), they can't freely criticize automobiles. People were kept ignorant about the products they bought. [Has that changed?] The Corvair required unusual tire pressures (p.23). Low tire pressure can lead to a blow-out. The Corvair oversteered, a dangerous condition (p.29). Was this caused by top management (p.39)? Tolerating needless defects "is a symbol of a much deeper malaise" (p.41). The dangers of an "ordinary swing axle" were known except to buyers. Chapter 2 tells of many defects found in new automobiles. The danger and solution to the second collision is in Chapter 3. The military lost more men by automobile accidents than in combat in Korea (p.87). [A statistic that ignores rates.] This chapter explains the changes in car designs since the 1960s. That second place of Ford is usual (p.118). The link between automobile exhaust and smog was documented in 1950 (Chapter 4). Auto companies objected to lowering emissions but gave no reasons (p.165). [To keep prices down?] Who benefits from pollution (p.169)? Nader states the number of deaths by automobiles went up by 25% since 1961 but doesn't link that to any increase in drivers and automobiles (p.170). Travel always had danger. Most accidents that produce fatalities occur under 40 MPH (p.176). [Local driving.] Do SAE standards improve safety (p.191)? Do odometers read high by design (p.196)? [To avoid the speed limit?] Stylists are important for selling automobiles; people buy on the basis of "looks" since they have no other standard. Does style imply decadence (p.212)? An emotional plea (p.213)? Style's triumph was the Ford Mustang (p.217). Tail fins were a style that killed (p.225). The traffic safety establishment blamed the victims and ignored the vehicle (Chapter 7). Were manufacturers not liable for their products (p.238)? Automobile manufacturers funded and controlled the traffic safety establishment (p.243). Should the Underwriter's Laboratories inspect and evaluate motor vehicles (p.250)? Press the brakes when setting the parking brake (p.253)! Insurance companies profit from death and injuries (p.255)! Connecticut's crackdown on speeding caused more injuries (p.266). Does driver education have any value (p.288)? Does the number of highway police affect the accident rate (p.289)? [Yes.] Do 10% of the drivers have 50% of the accidents (p.280)? [But what "10%"?] Does speeding

Questioning Power!

This book does a brilliant job of questioning corporate power, and the interests that put the consumer's at risk for the sake of the bottom line. The amount of hatred directed at him from the right-wingers as well as conformist 'liberals' is only a measure of the fear of truth that Ralph has managed to inspire in these parasites.

A must for persons interested in Road Safety

As a Traffic Safety Specialist, this book is a MUST, this old book needs to be mandatory reading for any person interested in Road Safety, Ralph documented the resistance of car companies to the introduction of safety features, like safety belts, that looks timely today, for example with the lobby that produce a delay in the mandatory fitting of air bags. Also you will learn how the primitive road safety components, still used in USA, called the three E's (Engineering, Enforcement, Education ) was born as a device to direct the efforts to the community away from the real problems of safety of the vehicles, some of the that was sell with tires that don't resist the weight of the fully loaded vehicle !.Finally you can understand the lacking level of road safety in US versus European countries that have in service safety policies that will reduce the absolute number of killed by 30% over 5 years.This book is the necessary building stone to the effort to make car manufacturers accountable for the safety level of his products.I can't understand why some publisher is not doing a new edition of it.

All the stars in the milky whey wouldn't correct the wrong

The Corvair was the Pinto of the '60s. Ralph Nadir was the first to say, "Enough is enough!" and took the Big Three to the mat, in this case just Chevrolet. If you liked Roger and Me you must have to read this book--it will change the way you look at modern day power structure. To think one man who came to define "consumer advocate" could topple a mighty giant of American Indusrty! This car was dangerous because the company tried to cut costs on the rear suspension, but all they saved was $4 per car!!! Incredable to believe human life could mean so little to some, but that is why you must to read this book.

Required Reading for Consumers!

This is one of the best books you will ever read as a consumer or environmentalist. You will love the way Nader brings to shame the Automotive Industries of the 50s and 60s on the issues of saftey and health (which should be the most important, duh!). His persuasive skill to make logic so obvious is fantasic.