This paper describes the advances being made by the automotive safety community in the United States to further improve the design and performance of motor vehicles to avoid a crash and prevent injury. It also discusses the need for careful evaluation of opportunities for further safety gains. These gains include: (1) the "hard technologies" of vehicle crashworthiness and crash avoidance hardware; and (2) the "soft technologies" of modifying driving techniques and risk-taking behaviour to avoid crashes. If a person has been taught proper driving techniques, exercises safe driving behaviour, and has avoided crashes as a result, these "soft technologies" can take on equal importance in preventing injury as the "hard technologies" of crash avoidance by; (a) anti-lock brake systems (ABS), (b) heads-up display, or (c) obstacle-detection radar. As part of the national health promotion, HHS Secretary Sullivan has asked the medical profession to encourage the public to take responsibility for their own health. In much the same way, there needs to be a national programme by the government and industry to encourage drivers to take responsibility for their own behaviour and protection.
Abstract