TGITWH says better gas milegage leads to more deaths . Tougher fuel standards makes driving riskier. Anyone know if true or faux? Why if so?

I'm not sure if there's any actual research on it.
However, I could make the case it's true on 2 grounds:

1 - People drive more, when it doesn't cost as much.
More driving = more accidents.

2 - The easiest way to get better fuel efficiency is to lighten vehicles.
Lighter vehicles generally fare worse in crashes than heavier ones.


I'm hoping California (and other states) are able to convince Congress to allow them to maintain their "exemption" of requiring stricter regulations than the federal government.

Seems strange to me, that in every other law the stricter one rules (EG: federal vs state minimum wage) ... but for environmental regulations, the federal one trumps state, even if the state regulation is stricter.

The moron thinks we need ID to go grocery shopping.  Who listens to a moron?

The main problem with the mandated fuel economy standards is that the least expensive way for automakers to comply is by making vehicles lighter.

Replacing steel with aluminum and fiberglass is cheaper than re-engineering already highly fuel-efficient engines. In fact, that may be the only way to meet the latest rules, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Lighter cars and trucks are less crash-worthy than heavier ones. Stricter mileage standards therefore will lead to more injuries and deaths on the nation’s highways.

I about choked from laughter when I heard that.  What kind of moronic logic is that?

Driving is made riskier by idiotic drivers!  No amount of gas mileage will fix that.  If anything this logic is backwards.

But to be fair, let's follow this logic out...  (theoretically)

- Cars that get less gas mileage would mean cheaper cars to purchase since manufacturers would automatically pass savings on to customers  (insert eye rolling here)
- Cheaper cars means more people can afford to drive
- More people driving raises gasoline prices (basic economics - supply and demand)
- More drivers means more traffic
- Increased traffic increases the odds that one will be in a wreck (fatal)

- Cars that get less mileage don't have to be as lightweight (Fact: manufactures make things lighter or eliminate them to increase fuel efficiency)
- Heavier cars will stand up better in a crash (e.g. Model T's, Ford Fairlanes)
- With reduced standards manufacturers will naturally use heavier materials to build cars (e.g. steel vs fiberglass)
- Heavier materials cost more (not even considering any tariffs) so manufacturers must raise their prices in order to keep their same profit margin.  (insert eye rolls here)
- Higher prices means less cars sold.
- less cars sold means less traffic
- less traffic means less chance of being in a wreck (fatal)
- less traffic means less fuel used
- less fuel used means less profits for oil companies
- less oil company profits means higher fuel prices (+tax) 
- higher fuel prices means more angry customers
- More angry customers demand more fuel efficient cars so as to stretch their fuel dollar further...

Nowhere did any of this make drivers smarter (look, a  red light.  I wonder how fast I can go through it?  Just let me down another swig of this here beer first)