Recalled Toyota’s 19 times safer than walking

A new Congressional logo?

I am not a Toyota apologist. Yes, I own and drive a Toyota hybrid, but that’s only because they’ve provided the best choice in hybrid cars when I’ve hybrid shopped. Nevertheless, I’d dump Toyota as my brand of choice in a heartbeat if I found a more cost-effective hybrid that fulfilled my needs.

Ultimately, the only thing I really like about Toyota are their efforts into hybrid cars. As I stated earlier today, last year Toyota sold about a 1/2 million hybrid cars. Ford, the leading US manufacturer of hybrids, sold about 30,000 hybrids. That’s what I like about Toyota. And that’s partially while I’ve defended Toyota during this recall ‘scandal’. Inevitably, a healthy Toyota puts pressure on US automakers to develop more fuel efficient vehicles.

Moreover, I’ve defended Toyota because Congress simply isn’t making much sense. And, when someone exerts a lot of effort advancing illogical endeavors, especially on my dime, I take offense. Is Congress just illogical, inept? Is this related to the bailout? I don’t know, but something stinks.

For instance, anyone looking at safety, crash and death statistics in the automotive sector – which I assume Congress has done – will find that the Toyotagate recall scandal isn’t much of an issue, at least if the actual numbers of crashes and deaths matter. In fact, according to death statistics, it is 19 times safer to drive a recalled Toyota than it is to walk.

Besides, if Congress really wanted to save lives in the automotive sector, they’d simply outlaw SUVs. In one swift move 10,000+ lives per year would be saved, and we could probably stop importing OPEC oil.

Then again, in light of these scandalous walking statistics, I think Congress should form a panel on the benefits of outlawing walking.