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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=640223222-01042010>New federal
standards for fuel economy in cars:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><A
href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/01/obama-administration-releases-new-fuel-efficiency-rules/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/01/obama-administration-releases-new-fuel-efficiency-rules/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=640223222-01042010>The big talk is
about how much more dangerous these tiny cars will be, however the criteria upon
which the numbers are based seem to have at least
two obvious systematic errors. They go on and on about how the
occupants of the tiny cars are more likely to die in a collision, but it looks
to me like they fail to account for the fact that the smaller cars are slower,
so they should not just rely on the standard 60 mph head-on into a
barrier. Perhaps they should equate standard modern Detroits at 60 with
the future microcars at 45.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=640223222-01042010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN class=640223222-01042010>Second, the presence
of the tiny cars makes it safer for everyone who does not drive
them. If some drunken prole hits me while I am driving Mister
Lincoln, she is more likely to perish, but I am less likely to do so, or even to
suffer severe injury. That seems like at least a
break-even safety-wise.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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class=640223222-01042010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
class=640223222-01042010>spike</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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class=640223222-01042010></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
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