Even with exploding air bags, driving is getting safer

Exploding air bags that spew shrapnel. Defective ignition switches that send cars careening into trees. Automakers that hide the grim details. Feckless regulators unable to track the trail of blood.

America’s highways sound like a war zone thanks to the worst spate of auto-safety scandals in at least 15 years. The latest revelations show that Honda (HMC) — long considered the white knight of automakers— failed to file hundreds of required reports on safety defects that may have led to an unknown number of driver deaths. That’s in addition to flaws in airbags made by supplier Takata that are linked with at least four U.S. deaths and perhaps many more. The faulty ignition switches installed in at least 2.6 million General Motors (GM) vehicles are now linked with at least 35 deaths. Shoddy safety reporting by seemingly every automaker may conceal other dreadful problems.

Auto-related deaths on the decline

So drivers should probably just stay off the roads or travel by bus, right? Actually, no. Despite several automakers’ galling disregard for their customers’ safety, driving has still become notably safer during the last several years. And careful drivers can take additional steps to protect themselves and their passengers – even in vehicles affected by safety recalls.

Both the number of auto-related deaths and the fatality rate have fallen sharply during the last decade, even though the U.S. population has been rising. Nearly 43,000 people were killed in car crashes in 2003, for a fatality rate of 18.59 deaths for every 100,000 registered vehicles. By 2012, those numbers had fallen to about 33,500 deaths and a fatality rate of 12.63. That's a huge improvement. And the safety problems that have come to light this year are unlikely to change those numbers, because the deaths have already been accounted for, even if the exact cause hasn’t. Plus, the number of deaths from recently discovered problems are small relative to the overall number of traffic fatalities.

There are a few obvious reasons why auto safety has improved. New safety devices such as air bags, stability control and crash-avoidance systems have helped prevent thousands of crashes and make them more survivable when they do occur. Automakers often resist government efforts to make new safety gear standard equipment, arguing that car buyers ought to be able to choose which safety devices they’re willing to pay extra for instead of being forced to bear the cost of mandated features. But hardly anybody complains when safety improvements are as dramatic as we’ve seen in the auto industry lately, which is an underreported good-news story safety innovators and even know-it-all government hens deserve credit for.

Concealing data

There’s a double tragedy when automakers conceal data on fatal safety problems, as many seem to have done during the last several years. First is the loss of life that comes with the original problem. Then there are injuries and fatalities that could have been prevented had automakers reported in real time what they knew about safety problems, giving safety officials better tools for spotting new dangers.

Congress is considering whether to give the government’s automotive watchdog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more regulatory muscle, to compel automakers to turn over key safety info sooner and punish them more for stonewalling. A bigger budget might help too. It might also be worth easing the path to criminal prosecution for industry executives who endanger lives by concealing information that might make a difference.

Auto safety has also improved thanks to better awareness of the risks from drunk and reckless driving, the failure to wear seat belts and the use of mobile phones on the road. There’s a lot of unfinished business here, especially because electronic distractions are multiplying and many cars will soon offer full-blown Internet access. Still, technology can help improve safety too, and automakers such as GM could win back some lost credibility by finding legitimate new ways for connectivity to make cars safer.

Auto safety isn’t strictly the responsibility of automakers and the government, of course. If drivers didn’t speed, tailgate, cut each other off and generally act like ding-dongs, the roads would be safer still. Motorists worried about a particular recall or possible problems with their own vehicle don’t have to wait for instructions to arrive in the mail. A dealer’s service department ought to be able to tell you if your car is subject to any open recalls; just give them the vehicle information number (VIN) that’s usually etched on the top of the dashboard.

Car owners can find more information about recalls on the government’s official site, recalls.gov. That site also has details on reported problems not deemed serious enough for a recall, which automakers often address through technical service bulletins, or TSBs. Checking for yourself is a good idea, especially for used-car owners, those who have moved since purchasing their vehicle, or anybody else it might be hard for automakers to keep track of.

Carmakers usually pay for repairs required under a recall, but not necessarily under a TSB. You may be able to negotiate a partial payment, however, by complaining to the automaker’s regional sales operation; the dealer might even help, since they’ll get paid for the work. Beyond that, drivers can do each other a favor by simply being a bit more accommodating on the road--and making sure that air bag never goes off in the first place.

Rick Newman’s latest book is Rebounders: How Winners Pivot From Setback To Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman.