Marty Jerome
Gear

As Car Safety Increases, So Do Car Crashes

A professor from West Virginia University gives academic credibility to the nut-behind-the-wheel prejudices that have dogged motorists since Ford brought out the Model A. Economics professor Russell Sobel, who compiled the study with Penn State Erie professor Todd Nesbit, maintains that the safer people feel, the more reckless they’ll drive. They based their study on […]

Nascarcrash_2

A professor from West Virginia University gives academic credibility to the nut-behind-the-wheel prejudices that have dogged motorists since Ford brought out the Model A. Economics professor
Russell Sobel, who compiled the study with Penn State Erie professor Todd
Nesbit, maintains that the safer people feel, the more reckless they’ll drive. They based their study on 631 NASCAR races between 1973 and 1993.
Accidents increased while injuries to drivers decreased, thanks to roll cages, fuel cells, five-point harnesses, lexan windshields and other safety technologies. It raises the question: does knowing that you have airbags encourage you to drive 10 mph faster? Aggression aside, safer cars allow drivers to distract themselves with cell-phone calls, arguments with their spouses, eating and so forth.

Source: Associated Press