Every time someone asks me for advice because they’re shopping for a new or pre-owned vehicle, no one ever asks which is the safest car or truck they can buy. Price, reliability, after-sales service, interior space, handling and horsepower are among the main purchase criteria, while safety is but a very minor concern.
I am aware that no one wants to drive their family around in an unsafe vehicle. However, six airbags, ten airbags, twenty-seven airbags, it makes no difference. All new cars, or just about, have ABS brakes, brake assist, stability and traction control, crumple zones, the works. That, plus people still think a big car is safer than a small one, which is false. But safety is essentially a given in 2011.
Volvo built itself a reputation for safety, and pioneered many features such as three-point seat belts. However, the competition has caught up in the last 20 years, and the Swedish brand has lost its edge since then.
And then there’s Toyota, who are obsessively pushing their so-called Star Safety System, which is nothing more than a roundup of a few safety features that were previously either standard or optional in most of their models. Nothing new or revolutionary here, but the company will talk about it in each and every press release and speech for the next two years.
If Toyota didn’t handle the loose floor mat and sticking accelerator pedal recalls very smartly, they’re making things worse by pursuing the promotion of how safe their vehicles are. A public apology by the company President is an arguable strategy, and every time they announce the opening of a Product Quality Field Office, which is said to “improve global quality” and “provide a direct link between the customer and Toyota’s design, quality and manufacturing organizations,” they’re showing us how insecure they are feeling right now.
Since safety is only a minor concern for the public, or the public assumes today’s vehicles have achieved a safety threshold, I wonder why Toyota shouldn’t just stop talking about it. If they are so convinced that their vehicles are safe, and they are, no further justification is necessary.
When the recall about the sticking gas pedals went public, I thought it would have been long forgotten after six months. After all, Toyota was considered the most reliable brand of vehicles, and that reputation wouldn’t get shaken by the sudden turn of events. I was wrong. Since then, every Toyota recall has become a running gag because the company is still wiping up the first spill with paper towels instead of simply using a mop.
Talking about safety is good, and I want my kids to ride in a safe vehicle as much as anyone. But why don’t you talk to me about how good of a deal your vehicle is instead of how safe it is?
I am aware that no one wants to drive their family around in an unsafe vehicle. However, six airbags, ten airbags, twenty-seven airbags, it makes no difference. All new cars, or just about, have ABS brakes, brake assist, stability and traction control, crumple zones, the works. That, plus people still think a big car is safer than a small one, which is false. But safety is essentially a given in 2011.
Volvo built itself a reputation for safety, and pioneered many features such as three-point seat belts. However, the competition has caught up in the last 20 years, and the Swedish brand has lost its edge since then.
And then there’s Toyota, who are obsessively pushing their so-called Star Safety System, which is nothing more than a roundup of a few safety features that were previously either standard or optional in most of their models. Nothing new or revolutionary here, but the company will talk about it in each and every press release and speech for the next two years.
If Toyota didn’t handle the loose floor mat and sticking accelerator pedal recalls very smartly, they’re making things worse by pursuing the promotion of how safe their vehicles are. A public apology by the company President is an arguable strategy, and every time they announce the opening of a Product Quality Field Office, which is said to “improve global quality” and “provide a direct link between the customer and Toyota’s design, quality and manufacturing organizations,” they’re showing us how insecure they are feeling right now.
Since safety is only a minor concern for the public, or the public assumes today’s vehicles have achieved a safety threshold, I wonder why Toyota shouldn’t just stop talking about it. If they are so convinced that their vehicles are safe, and they are, no further justification is necessary.
When the recall about the sticking gas pedals went public, I thought it would have been long forgotten after six months. After all, Toyota was considered the most reliable brand of vehicles, and that reputation wouldn’t get shaken by the sudden turn of events. I was wrong. Since then, every Toyota recall has become a running gag because the company is still wiping up the first spill with paper towels instead of simply using a mop.
Talking about safety is good, and I want my kids to ride in a safe vehicle as much as anyone. But why don’t you talk to me about how good of a deal your vehicle is instead of how safe it is?