Sometimes it seems like the whole
world and everything we depend on is crashing around us. Or into us.
Take airbags. Those things
automakers resisted putting in, and safety advocates insisted were needed as
people were too lazy to fasten themselves in with seat belts. Now it turns out
the airbags themselves are unsafe.
At least if you define unsafe as
being hit by flying shrapnel.
Seems the Takata company, who makes
airbags for auto companies, had a little quality control problem and now over 7
million cars from two dozen different car manufacturers are being recalled
because they can malfunction.
The problem causes the airbag's
metal inflator to burst open due to excessive pressure and shoot metal parts at
unsuspecting riders trapped by both the airbag itself and their seatbelts. Good
news for us northwesterners, the problem seems to be worse in humid climates.
Glad it's never wet around here...
But there's some good driving news.
America, as we all know, has a bit of an obesity problem, and while that hasn't
yet forced airplane companies to ease the cattle car crowding of coach class,
leading to more than one battle of the elbow-rest being settled by adipose
spillover, it has finally alerted safety folks.
In response to that growing
problem, the world's leading crash test dummy maker, Humanetics, is offering a
new, improved, obese model.
Which, if
you've seen a recent picture of the musical group Crash Test Dummies, only
makes sense. They illustrate we've all picked up a few pounds. (BTW -- I also
heard the Fine Young Cannibals are now vegetarians.)
Anyhow, the average size of current
crash test dummies is 167 pounds. Humanetics is making a new one that's 273
with a BMI of 35.
It looks like it swallowed an
airbag.
America, ya gotta love it.
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