In 1965, 49,000 Americans died on the nation's streets and highways, while 1,800,000 others-more than the entire population of Detroit-suffered disabling injuries. In terms of miles traveled, an American is 41 times as likely to die in his car as he is in an airplane. Last week, after years of deploring such statistics, House and Senate Committees began hearings on what President Johnson has called the nation's "gravest" domestic problem.
As part of its six-year, $700 million highway safety bill, the Administration requested discretionary authority to establish automobile safety standards-and fully expected Congress to balk. As it turned out, Congressmen...
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