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

[Jonathan King <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Tue, 5 Mar 2002, Mike Miller wrote:

> 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:

[snip table]

> 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.

Right, which is why you should compare to "cars of that class" as I
mentioned.  Getting the classes right could be a bit tricky, but
maybe not as tricky as some things.  So it would be easy to compare
minivans to minivans, and 2-seat vehicles with each other, but
trickier to put a Nissan Maxima or a Lincoln Navigator (either of
which can be driven safely or like a weapon of destruction at your
choice) in the right places.  Actually, I'm willing to bet that the
best data on this could be seen in accident insurance rates for
various cars.

> People with small children will be cautious,

Well, you would think that.  But then you wouldn't have seen the way 
people drive around Russell Elementary. :-)

> so the cars that are driven by such people will be safer than,
> say, little sports cars.

Yup.

> 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.

Well, I know that big Buicks always look good on some measures of
traffic fatalities, because they are primarily driven by little old 
ladies who only go to church every Sunday. :-)

jking

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