16 July, 2008

Getting Serious About Fuel Efficiency In the USA

So, I just finished reading a recap of "Maximum" Bob Lutz's News Conference yesterday (7/15).

OK. No surprise we're not getting the small, fuel efficient Chevrolet Beat (Spark?). It's not designed to meet US safety standards.

Here's a novel thought though...let's change those standards. Let's stop forcing auto makers to make cars designed to protect people too stupid to wear their seatbelts. It's funny that conservative American politicians criticize the Europeans as running nanny states and then vote for regulations in the US that are so abhorrent to the idea of personal responsibility.

If I want to drive a small car with limited crash protection and no airbag in order to pay less for it and get better mileage, isn't that my call? Apparently not.