‘Car of Tomorrow’ to increase number of crashes, according to study
Quote selected text Published March 27th, 2007 in NASCAR News
When NASCAR debuted the Car of Tomorrow at Bristol Motor Speedway yesterday, Todd Nesbit, an avid NASCAR fan and assistant professor of economics at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, was busy counting the number of accidents—and how many of those drivers walk away without a scratch.
In 2006, Nesbit and Russell Sobel, professor of economics at West Virginia University, produced a study that explored how drivers react to having cars so safe that they can generally walk away with no injuries after crashing into a concrete wall or another car at a very high rate of speed. “Based on results of our study, we would project that drivers will drive more recklessly and take more risks while driving the Car of Tomorrow,” Nesbit said. “Initially, there will be a learning curve for everyone, which will likely increase the number of accidents as drivers and crews get used to the vehicles. Once the learning curve has passed, we predict that the new normal rate of crashes will be higher than it is currently because of the response to additional safety features on the Car of Tomorrow.”
The study, “Automobile safety regulation and the incentive to drive recklessly: Evidence from NASCAR,” shows that NASCAR drivers, in fact, do drive more recklessly in response to the increased safety of their vehicles. However, even with an increase in accidents, there is a reduction in total injuries—because the increase in riskier driving is not enough to offset the benefits from an increase in safety features.
More at Penn State Erie
- NASCAR plans post-race COT inspection at each Nextel Cup event
- NASCAR declines Texas’ offer to host another Cup test
- Accidents and spins on the rise in NASCAR
- Ford reports 16% rise in China sales
- Roush: COT won’t save teams money
Wow that’s funny b/c it seemed to me there was less action then their ever has been in thunder valley! the busch race was kickass though…
I highly doubt that. Just because the car is safer doesn’t me drivers are going to be more reckless. The whole point is to keep the car clean. A crash is a crash, they’re not going to be more reckeless.
well its possible, but not likely. and the race was actually pretty good, they were trying hard to give each other room, there going to take it easy for the first race
i agree 100% nick b. ive been saying that since half way through the 500 laps. i mean, there wasnt even a single car of tommorrow running without a hood on.
i doubt that the number of wrecks will actually increase
due to that but in the first few races they might go up
because of the drivers getting aclimated to its handling.
drivers want to bring their cars home in one peice because
of track time means more sponsor exsposure.as soon as they
a handle on the cot,i think the racing will actually improve.