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tanagrabeast comments on Wear a Helmet While Driving a Car - Less Wrong Discussion
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I'm curious about liability risks that may accrue to the very lonely trendsetters who try it.
In my imagination, there's a terrible accident that leaves someone other than the helmet-wearer paralyzed or dead, and investigators are surprised to see that one driver was wearing... a helmet?? It's almost like he knew he was going to get into an accident -- perhaps even intended to. Certainly, that's what people would think reading the articles about it. Perhaps a jury would, as well.
Even a weaker version of that argument could be damaging; anti-lock breaks are said to increase risky driving behavior, after all. The same has been said of seat belts, even. See risk compensation.
If this happens to you say you did it because of my blog post. If you pay transportation costs I will even testify for you at a trial.
Economists call this the "Peltzman effect" and it seems robust. It does reduce the social benefits of driving helmets. One economist took the implications of this effect to their logical conclusion and suggested that steering wheels should have a spike pointed at their drivers.
What do you think of watching car crash compilations to counteract the Peltzman effect?
It might work.