The Safety Market

“Regulations that raise the price of a new car shut some buyers out of the market. So tougher federal rules may have the perverse effect of leading to more traffic fatalities,” writes Steve Chapman. “You would never know from Waxman and Rush that the government is not the main source of auto safety improvements. Profit-making corporations actually have a strong business interest in keeping their customers alive. They can also make money by offering products that reduce rather than maximize the buyer’s chances of dying in a fiery crash. Just as there are markets for auto style, power, versatility, luxury and sportiness, there is a market for safety.”