One of the major issues with automobiles today is the cost of buying a new car.
This is made worse by the massive decrease in used cars several years ago thanks to the “Cash for Clunkers” program that was touted as a success but actually did massive damage to the overall car market.
The regulations of what standards newly manufactured cars have to live up to have, like so many other things, gotten worse over time. If I’m not mistaken, a recent example would be Congress requiring a ‘kill switch’ be installed in all new cars which was slipped into a spending bill.
Aside from the overbearing nature of the regulations themselves, the more regulation is involved, the more difficult it is for anyone to manufacture a simple car that is just a car. It seems like every new car these days isn’t so much a car as it is a computer on wheels, which increases the costs of both making and maintaining a car on every front. If you don’t want a car that doesn’t come with a touch screen as a standard-issue feature, well you better find a used vehicle.
I even recall not to long ago that in order to be a mechanic these days, it basically also requires being a computer technician. It’s not a simple mechanical fix, you have to learn to code.
Thus, by massively rolling back any and all regulations that aren’t actually needed, it would open the doors for the manufacturing of simpler, less expensive vehicles. This would bring car ownership in reach for more citizens, empowering them with the simple but amazing transportation freedom that car ownership brings.
Safety-ism and the abandonment of traditional religions for pagan cult worship (AKA environmentalism) have created this terrible situation. Despite the 1st Amendment prohibiting the establishment of state religion, the environmentalist cult drives every insane policy demanding a pristine environment.
The "National Safety Council estimates that restraint use (including child safety seats) saved the lives of 325 children younger than 5 riding in passenger vehicles in 2017. But parents who want more children are forced to limit their family size by government rules requiring car seats. We trade off 325 saved for who knows how many thousands or tens of thousands of children who are never born because of this one anti-family government regulation.
While on the subject, I want people to have a choice of buying a car with or without auto start-stop feature. I truly hate it and I want to buy a car without it.
However, I truly see as much closer to autonomous driving than ever before. The nature of our relationship with vehicles is going to change dramatically over the next decade.
I would love to see a reemergence of AMC as much as the next guy. I think some deregulation is important, but I see much more pressing issues on the horizon.
This is an incredible policy idea, and I have been thinking about this for years. The CAFE standards have completely eliminated the ability for working class people to purchase reliable, affordable transportation and has reduced the availability of class-leading vehicles in the US like the Toyota Hilux and Land Cruiser 70 series. Affordable, and SMALL diesel work trucks will not only improve pedestrian safety, but provide reliable transportation to thousands of self employed contractors and businesses in the services industry. We MUST repeal CAFE Standards!
Then yes, I’d absolutely love it if it were actually possible to get a new car that’s actually a car rather than feeling like an oversized computer on wheels.
I agree with you that the CAFE Standards shouldn’t be up to any regulatory body, Same goes for other regulations, I still have a 1986 AUDI 4 Cylinder non-turbo 5 speed manual that gets 36 MPG.
Standards don’t make a vehicle more efficient but more expensive. There are demanding that the “wheel gets reinvented” .
Back in the days I also had a Diesel 5 Cyl AUDI manual . Had only 67 HP and it too got me over 36 MPG was a great car still miss it after over 24 years
Then it came the VW’s Diesel and if it wasn’t for those 3 guys who wanted to be unnecessarily curious as to why those VWs got over 55 MPG we would still have them around.
So yes regulations no so good after all, if manufacturers are left alone they know how to make any vehicle safe and very efficient. It is in their best interest to do so in order to sell and make a profit.
I recall of Chevy cars that had that one issue with the little spring in the ignition key that even some crashed and got really big damages, all that pretty sure it was because of regulations so factories finds ways to cut cost and then this happens.
Let’s openly discuss our reliance on Government to protect us from ourselves. Alternative solutions to our high regulatory environment:
Personal responsibility and accountability, look for our part in failures and how we can contribute to solutions.
Reduce victimhood and need-for-savior mentality that drives people to government help. Rely more on private sector and philanthropic solutions.
Nurture competitive merit and performance rewards in all elements of society
Accept that humans make mistakes and accidents happen and stop demanding massive cash sums as compensation for everything that happens to people
Liability Insurance reform to allow for more private coverage against significant tragedies. Think high-deductible catastrophic coverage and shared risk.
Stop misplacing compassion. Every year, for example, homeowners who live under sea level get flooded out of their homes. To paraphrase the late comedian Sam Kinison, let’s not send taxpayer dollars. Let’s send them luggage,
Move!