There Auto Be A Law Mike Nelson Returns: Unpacking Auto Safety Challenges
Aug 21, 2025
Mike Nelson from Nelson Law joins the discussion, tackling the alarming issue of traffic fatalities, which exceed 40,000 annually despite safety advancements. He sheds light on four key contributors: speed, distraction, impairment, and vehicle weight. The conversation dives into the technological challenges of auto safety, data ownership rights, and the intricate legal landscape around emergency braking systems. With compelling insights, Mike urges a reevaluation of societal attitudes toward driving safety, emphasizing collaboration between lawyers and engineers for better solutions.
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Four Primary Drivers Of Roadway Risk
- Four main contributors drive roadway deaths: speed/acceleration, distraction, impairment, and vehicle weight.
- Nelson emphasizes acceleration (especially in EVs) as a growing hazard beyond just top speed.
Safety Improvements Don’t Solve Root Causes
- Cars have improved crashworthiness but still don't prevent the collisions that cause ~40,000 annual deaths.
- Mike Nelson argues we must focus on avoiding accidents, not just protecting occupants after a crash.
Make Cars Signal Erratic Driving
- Use vehicle sensors to warn the public when a car is driven erratically, such as flashing hazard lights over a speed threshold.
- Require the alert to persist until the vehicle reduces speed or returns to normal control.