This link has been bookmarked by 1 people . It was first bookmarked on 16 Apr 2007, by Wisely.
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16 Apr 07
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That seat belts save lives is, however, completely false. Seat belts, by almost any measure, do not save lives. At best they do nothing. At worst, they actually cause more accidents and fatalities. That more people are not aware of this is a testament to the power of group-think, advertising and statistical illiteracy. As risk managers, we can't afford to succumb to any of these if we are to provide value.
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Adams researched the effects of seat-belt laws on accidents and deaths in 26 countries around the world. In a detailed longitudinal analysis, Adams clearly and convincingly is able to show that the adoption of seat-belt laws was not responsible for a decrease in auto fatalities. Adams also explores the psychological reasoning behind the outcomes. In doing so, he forever guarantees himself a seat among the thought leaders of risk management because his insights have broad and deep implications for the entire field of risk and safety management.
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What Adams discovered in his exploration is that there is significant empirical data supporting the theory of "risk compensation." This theory states that people have a certain level of risk that they find to be preferable. And, like a thermostat in a house, they will adjust constantly to retain that preferred level. So, taking the seat-belt example, if people feel that they are less at risk when wearing a seat belt, they will increase their risk levels in other areas to compensate. For example, they might follow the car in front of them more closely, take turns faster or drive at higher speeds. Over a large number of drivers, these will have the net effect of negating the safety benefits of wearing seat belts. In fact, there are studies that prove that drivers tend to drive faster if they are wearing seat belts.
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Risk compensation flies in the face of current safety theory. Safety devices cause accidents, and dangerous situations drive cautious behavior. For years we have been attempting to make the workplace safer. Perhaps it is time that we question our hackneyed assumptions. At the absolute least, these assumptions should be tested through empirical tests and statistical analysis. Iron spikes might be a better safety device than hard hats.
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