[Grant-53]

We all know the EPA mileage methods are benchmarks for comparison. Manufacturers of motor vehicles have been using figures for mileage, horsepower, and weight for decades and often you need to read the fine print. We also know or should know that crash worthiness is as much a function geometric design and material selection as size or mass. This why companies have developed detailed computer models and then test them. Subtle changes can have profound effects such as moving the seat belt mount a couple inches in the Honda Civic. I was impressed by the crash test video of the Smart car. That thing is build like an armored telephone booth. Now we are seeing more tech on accident avoidance. Right now there is a lot of marketing buzz particularly on light trucks. Safety, like speed and quality, costs money and each of us decides what we need and are willing to spend.