INNOBLOG

It is a widely known fact that thousands of people die in car accidents every year. It is more dangerous to drive than to fly, we say. To mitigate this, car manufacturers are investing millions in R&D programs that increase safety in vehicles. Of course, "death prevention" is a noble goal - but taking a step back, are cars overshot on safety?

A recent business week article "Cars That Brake When You Don't", highlights new technologies from Honda Motor Co. that prevent accidents by essentially usurping control of the braking mechanism. These cars sense the imminent safety risk, and initiate braking, tighten safety belts, and alert the driver, all in an effort to avoid the accident. One Toyota GM is quoted as saying "The ultimate aim is to create a car that cannot crash."

Again, I must reiterate that this goal is noble. However, is it necessary? From the rollout plans, it seems these high end safety systems (at a cost of $4300 per vehicle) can only be included in luxury vehicles. While it is unlikely that consumers will turn down safety features, how many would pay extra for them? Evidently, at this price tag, very few.

And, isn't that the mark of an overshot product?