Toyota In Perspective: How Bad is Bad?

As has been reported here, and many other places, Toyota is reeling from a series of dangerous incidents involving their product line. At least 34 people have been killed and a significant portion of the Toyota fleet has been recalled. Serious injuries have occurred relating to Toyota’s sudden acceleration problem and other defects that have been made public. The legal community and the public has expressed outrage, justifiably so, and Congress has begun hearings, making Toyota’s chief squirm with a barrage of unanswered questions. Further, and this is key, Toyota lied about the defects, covered them up, and cheered when they succeeded in limiting recalls of their products, boasting about the financial savings. This is bad, but how bad?

I decided to do a little research. In the US, yearly, there are over 6,000,000 auto accidents; over 42,000 result in death. Approximately 16,000 people die from alcohol related incidents, every year. 35,000 die from guns, 4,500 from illegal drugs, and a whopping 400,000 from smoking related issues. My research even found, unbelievably, that 37 people, between the years 1978-1995, died from having vending machines fall over on them.

Without the lies and the cover-ups, Toyota related incidents might have been a blip on the radar screeen. Cigarette and alcohol statistics make the Toyota numbers look small in comparison. Don’t misunderstand me, Toyota’s conduct is deplorable and they deserve every lawsuit and every bit of bad press that comes their way. The are a clear example of "profits over people" that pollutes the corporate atmosphere. I just thought that a little perspective might be in order. Those of my brothers and sisters who have been making the lives of big tobacco and big pharma squirm and pay millions should continue to do so, with vigor. These goliaths have absolutely no conscience whatsoever. Toyota is taking much heat, but they have shown remorse (getting caught with your hands in the cookie jar can do that to you) and they have recalled their product line. When was the last time big tobacco recalled a cigarette?