Unsafe at Any Speed
Also known as Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile
Ralph Nader's 1965 indictment of the US car industry's neglect of safety.
At a glance
Key ideas
The Sporty Corvair, The second collision, Style over safety …
See all 4Reception
General Motors, NHTSA, 1972, David E. Davis …
See all 4Connections
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Nader argues that carmakers resisted safety features such as seat belts and spent little on safety.
- Its best-known chapter attacks the Chevrolet Corvair's suspension.
- Other chapters cover glare from dashboards, confusing gear patterns, the "second collision" inside the car, pollution and styling.
- It blames the industry for shifting responsibility for crashes onto drivers.
Why it matters
- It helped bring the 1966 vehicle safety law and the creation of the US Department of Transportation, and it began the modern consumer movement.
Key facts
- Author
- Ralph Nader1
- Published
- 1965, Grossman Publishers, New York1
- Bestseller
- A best-selling nonfiction book in 19661
- Impact
- Followed by the creation of the Department of Transportation in 1966 and the predecessors of NHTSA in 19701
Key ideas
-
The Sporty Corvair1
Its early swing-axle suspension could "tuck under"; a cheap fix was overruled.
-
The second collision1
What happens to the body inside the car in a crash.
-
Style over safety1
Annual styling changes cost about $700 a car against about 23 cents spent on safety.
-
Blame the driver1
The "Three E's" put the burden on drivers rather than car design.
Reception
-
General Motors1
Had Nader investigated; its president apologised to a Senate subcommittee in 1966.
-
NHTSA, 19721
A government report disputed his claims about the Corvair's handling.
-
David E. Davis1
Faulted him for singling out the Corvair among swing-axle cars.
-
John DeLorean1
The former GM executive said his criticisms were valid.
Connections
Written by
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
Is something on this page wrong or out of date? Tell us
The line under a date fills as time passes: empty when new, then one equal share each for a day, a week, a month and a year. For episodes and other items it is full at 2 years; for "last checked", at a year. A striped line means the date is known only to the month or year.