Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] computer and car prices (was Re: [MLUG])

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Tue, 5 Mar 2002, Jonathan King wrote:

> So, for example, suppose in addition to giving out the EPA estimated gas
> mileage ratings on an obvious sticker that they also had to give out
> death/injury ratings for that make/model (or absent sufficient data, the
> whole fleet) together with the average figure for cars/trucks of that
> class and all vehicles.  Like this:
>
>           EPA est. MPG    DOT fatality rates
>           miles/gallon    deaths/10 million passenger-mile
>
> highway        25.0           2.0  (avg=1.0)
>
> city           17.0           2.4  (avg=1.7)
>
> I've made up the numbers, but you can see where this is going. Cars that
> have proven to be much more dangerous, for whatever reason, are not very
> likely to sell for much longer if the info is right there on the
> sticker.


Remember that the fatality rate depends on the probability of a serious
car accident which, in turn, depends on the behavior of the driver.
People who want to be safe will drive cautiously and the cars such people
prefer will therefore be safe cars.  People with small children will be
cautious, so the cars that are driven by such people will be safer than,
say, little sports cars.

I suppose it would work though for people comparing cars of similar types:
one minivan with another or a couple of little red sports cars.

Funny side effect:  A more expensive car might turn out to be safer just
because the driver is afraid of damaging his beloved status symbol.

Mike

--
To unsubscribe, go to http://mlug.missouri.edu/members/edit.php

Archives are available at http://mlug.missouri.edu/list-archives/