• AWildMimicAppears@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    U.S. vehicle fuel efficiency standards administered by NHTSA have encouraged automakers to build larger vehicles. The bigger the vehicle, the lower the fuel efficiency target it has to meet.

    That’s some monkeys paw type of shit law

    • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Yeah preverse incentives. When doing the wrong thing makes the most sense for the individual. Happens often in tragedy of the commons situations.

      If you hit a pedestrian it is better for you that they die. If you find an endangered animal on your land it is better for you to kill it. If you have a child with someone who makes minimum wage it is better for you to divorce.

      Maybe it is too much to expect but for things like this, when public policy experts came up with a standard instead of just inheriting a situation, that they plan for these things in advance. Spend a few moments and look at where the incentives are before just hammering a new policy into place.

      • Patches@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        If you hit a pedestrian it is better for you that they die

        Uh maybe in China. I would not say that in the United States. Manslaughter is a serious charge.

        • afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          You aren’t factoring in civil suits. Someone dead, their family can only get so much. Someone crippled can just keep going after you and might have to as they go into greater and greater levels of debt. What would you do if suddenly your income went down to about 14k USD a year and with each passing day the chances of you returning to work diminished, wouldn’t you be desperate enough to try to win some money from the person who did this to you? Wouldn’t you go along with any shyster lawyer who promised results?

    • Windshear@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Recently bought a new diesel silverado 3500 for my ranch. It’s enormous, I’m glad I didn’t get the dually option as it’s hard enough to drive in the city. Most of its job however is pulling trailers around.

      That said, on highway if I drive the speed limit and take it easy I can get 9L/100km. It’s unreal that such a huge truck will get almost the same economy as our KIA SUV.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      That’s Regulatory Capture. Laws made by and for the industry they’re supposed to regulate.