THAT most typical product of American civilization1 the autobrings joy, jobs, mobility, freedom. It also brings economic waste and human pain. Death and destruction on the highway are now the subject of muckraking books, rock-'n'-roll ballads, congressional inquiry, and serious self-examination in Detroit. The auto represents power, speed and progressand each of these elements involves risk. As long as men move, there will be accidents. But need there be so much human cost? Clearly the answer is no.
Asked not long ago why his industry did not design more safety into its products,...