Are things getting better? And should Detroit get the credit? (or blame)

In the news: Cadillac Escalade is chosen car of celebrities and thieves which cites a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. On their website, you can read more about the statistics gathered, and it includes this provocative graph:


The institute says:

Since 1980 overall theft claim frequencies have declined while average insurance payments per claim have increased, although these trends have leveled off in recent years. Some of the decline in claim frequencies and overall losses reflects the increased installation of immobilizing antitheft devices in many new vehicles.

It has been our impression over the years that automakers could have made changes years ago to hinder auto theft, but that it helped their bottom line to have cars stolen (it generated business in parts, repair, and new car sales). For some reason (most likely competition from Japan) they had to implement theft deterrent measures, and now we see the results.

posted by Quiddity at 8/21/2003 03:49:00 PM