NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm new here so help me out.



Automobile Safety Regulations (Free Trade)


RECOGNIZING that automobiles are manufactured and marketed as means of transportation;

ALARMED BY the rising number of automobile related injuries and fatalities;

RECOGNIZING that automobiles can pose a deadly harm to the lives of innocent people;

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the "Common Sense Act II" does not hold automobile manufacturers liable for the "reckless or improper manner" in which the driver behaves;

RECOGNIZING that many automobile related injuries and fatalities are not related to the "reckless or improper manner" in which the driver behaves;

SEEKING TO improve the moral decency among the automobile manufacturers of all nations by creating safety regulations;

SEEKING TO create a level playing field among the automobile manufacturers of all nations by standardizing safety regulations;


SOLEMNLY AFFIRMS the following Automobile Safety Regulations, established by The Icy Angel Motor Vehicles Commission, as binding on all members of the United Nations:

1. All automobiles must be equipped with the following 'visible' safety devices:
1a. three-point seatbelts for all passengers,
1b. front bumpers with the ability to withstand 16km/h (10mph) crashes,
1c. front, side, and rear windows, as well as rear view mirrors, that allow for optimal visibility, except on container trucks or trucks designated for carrying containers where the cargo obstructs any rear window,
1d. headlights (including high-beam, low-beam, and parking lights) and turnsignals that emit light of any color except for red,
1e. taillights that emit only red light with exception to reverse lights, which must emit white light,
1f. Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) systems for child seat compatibility,
1g. radial or steel-belted tires, appropriateness determined by weather,
1h. warning stickers for front-seat occupants about the dangers posed by front impact airbags on lightweight passengers.

2. All automobiles must be equipped with the following 'hidden' safety devices:
2a. front and side impact beams,
2b. anti-roll bars and roll cages,
2c. crush and crumple zones,
2d. front and side airbags that protect all passengers in the event of an accident,
2e. speed-limiters of 200km/h (124mph) that can be deactivated for off-road, racing, or police purposes,
2f. in the event of explosion due to the rupture of the fuel tank, a protective plate between the fuel tank and the ground, and a layer of titanium reinforcement around the tank itself.

3. All nations must establish uniform automobile operation and traffic regulations, license tests and requirements, and vehicle registration and insurance procedures.

WOW!

A proposal that makes sense!

Very good! Now get busy on all those telegrams.

ok-big noob question-what's the procedure for that?

See TG

Oh - and it would not fit Human Rights. Free Trade is a better category. Add a line like :

"SEEKING TO create a level playing field among the automobile manufacturers of all nations by standardizing safety regulations".

3. All nations must establish "rules of the road", i.e. uniform automobile operation and traffic regulations, license tests and requirements, and vehicle registration procedures.

Try rephrasing this by removing the bolded section. It reads easier.

Last edit for the evening:

Adding a last part which states that all member nations have the right enact stricter laws if they so choose will reduce some "But I need higher safety regulations in my nation!" whining later.


*notes that someone actually read the FAQs before trying this out*

:cool:

Definite votes in favor.

I still don't understand what else I have to do. Am I supposed to telegram somebody? How do I get the UN to vote on it?

First, here, if you want to, do the rewrites suggested by editing your post.

If you like the proposal as it stands, submit the proposal on the UN page (back where your nation statistics are).

Then read the telegram I sent you.

Thank you for your help Vastiva. Delegates, please vote for it.

Actually, I deleted it for wrong category. I don't see how restricting the rules of car manufactor decreases trade barriers. I would put it under Moral Decency, believe it or not.

The proposal restricts the freedom of car manufactorers (their freedom to make unsafe cars) for moral reasons (that people should have cars that are safe). It seems a little odd on first read, I know, but that really seems like the best category to me.

Actually, I deleted it for wrong category. I don't see how restricting the rules of car manufactor decreases trade barriers. I would put it under Moral Decency, believe it or not.

The proposal restricts the freedom of car manufactorers (their freedom to make unsafe cars) for moral reasons (that people should have cars that are safe). It seems a little odd on first read, I know, but that really seems like the best category to me.

*blinks*

Having an even playing field - as in "everyone has the same basics" - levels the industry. It decreases trade barriers as the basic safety requirements - one of the international trade barriers - is removed. If you buy a car, you know it will have your basic safety requirements covered.

I'm rather completely confused.

Hmm... that's one way of looking at it, yes.

Fair enough. I'll remove the warning, and it can be resubmitted under either category.

1a. four-point seatbelts for all passengers,
Okay, two things off this one point.

1) What about the driver?
2) Forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard of a four-point seatbelt. I may be confused, but I've always used what I refer to as a three point seatbelt - the standard one which is secured above the shoulder, then crosses over the torso diagonally to a clip at the opposite hip, then crossing the lap to secure at the other hip. Have I just got my terms confused?

Apart from those, this is a very good idea and well thought out. Good luck!

1c. front, side, and rear windows, as well as rear view mirrors, that allow for optimal visibility,


What about trucks? That is trucks that have a huge container, that would prevent anyone seeing out of a rear window or rear view mirror?


1e. taillights that emit only red light,


Reverse lights?


2e. speed-limiters of 200km/h (124mph) that can be deactivated for off-road or racing purposes.


May I also suggest that police vehicles are exempt from this?

Enn:
Here are detalis on the four-point. http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=163,197&sid=197&article=3920
They have been used before in auto racing seats, but only a few production cars have them. They are a more common technology than hydrogen cars, and obviously a whole lot cheaper. But if we want people to vote for it, perhaps we should not include things that people are not accustomed to.

TilEnca:
Those three ideas are good, and I will modify. I only thought of passenger automobiles when writing about this. I don't know too much about trucks, but I doubt that the larger ones would have as many safety features due to their size. I don't think that buses have airbags for every occupant. Applying these things to all vehicles might not hurt commerce too much, and will definitely improve moral decency.

Both of your suggestions bring up a new question: Wouldn't hydrogen or gasoline cars have fuel tanks, and where are they located on hydrogen cars? I might add another section that says fuel tanks must be reinforced somehow, in the risk of explosion.

The Most Glorious Hack:
OK, that will be changed.

Hydrogen cars do have fuel tanks, and I suspect those would be located in the same position. I advise having a protectiive plate between them and the ground annd heavily reinforcing the tank at the very least. My own regulations on it call for a titanium box around the fuel tanks of any cars using explosive materials for fuels.

TilEnca:
Those three ideas are good, and I will modify. I only thought of passenger automobiles when writing about this. I don't know too much about trucks, but I doubt that the larger ones would have as many safety features due to their size. I don't think that buses have airbags for every occupant. Applying these things to all vehicles might not hurt commerce too much, and will definitely improve moral decency.


(grin) I just thought I would mention it :}

I gained a legitimate second endorsement, so I think I will submit this proposal again :) Please vote!!!

I'm very impressed by this proposal and look forward to it (hopefully) entering the queue. Proposals like this, that deal with international issues that cross borders, impress me and garner my support almost instantly.