Back To The Future All Over Again or You Can't Make a Roller Skate Safe at 70mph

I remember the last time the government (under Jimmy Carter) decided to "fix" the US auto industry by setting strict new emissions and mileage requirements....

The only way to get better mileage and lower emissions was to reduce the weight and size of the vehicle... and we got the Ford Pinto and other small lightweight lawnmowers with windows like the Vega and Chevette and Dodge Colt.

The Pinto was found to be unsafe due to gas tank fires from virtually any rear collision, the Vega, Chevette, Colt and the entire new generation of smaller, lighter, cars were of course found to be much less safe in an accident than full size cars and trucks.

America rejected the undersized, underpowered, over dangerous mini-cars and went back to big V8 powered SUV's trucks and most recently we even saw the return of the muscle cars such as Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Charger etc.
But alas...

Now it's "Back to the Future" and "Groundhog Day" ..."all over again".


Obama's new rules will transform US auto fleet...

President to set standards of car emissions...

Consumers face higher prices...

Safety could suffer...