Safety

In the 1970s, the U.S. government mandated new safety features in cars: seatbelts, airbags, reinforced frames, and improved braking systems. The goal was simple: reduce traffic fatalities. Economist Sam Peltzman studied what actually happened. His findings were shocking: while driver deaths stayed roughly the same, pedestrian and cyclist deaths increased. Why? Because drivers felt safer-so they drove more recklessly. The Paradox The safer people feel, the more risks they take. ...

On January 28, 1986, millions of Americans watched the Space Shuttle Challenger lift off from Kennedy Space Center. Among the seven crew members was Christa McAuliffe, a high school teacher chosen to be the first civilian in space. Students across America watched live from their classrooms, excited to see their teacher reach the stars. Seventy-three seconds into the flight, Challenger exploded. All seven crew members died instantly. The nation was devastated. ...