Don’t blame safety features for high car prices, experts say
Car prices are rising, but the cause may not be what you think. Don’t blame safety features as vehicle prices soar, the group says.
USA Today Car
- The federal government says the social value of auto safety standards far outweighs the cost to consumers.
- The average transaction price for a new car is over $50,000.
Don’t blame safety features for the high cost of a new car.
That’s the message David Harkey, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, thinks consumers need to hear.
According to Kelley Blue Book, the average price consumers paid for a new car reached a record high of $50,326 in December, making affordability a popular topic in today’s highly political climate.
Harkey’s concerns stem from comments in recent months from elected officials, including Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who link some safety features to higher vehicle prices, a framework the IIHS disputes.
Herkey wants to prevent safety features from being compromised as a result of this charged environment. He said safety features that save lives aren’t the issue.
Rather, the main culprit is convenience features. He cited items that drive up the price of a new car, such as retractable mirrors, a power liftgate, and puddle lights that illuminate the vehicle’s branding or logo when the door is opened.
Harkey also noted that consumers often choose larger cars and higher trim levels, and said you don’t have to spend $50,000 to get a car with better safety features. In an article posted on his website on Tuesday, Jan. 20, he wrote that vehicles such as the Mazda 3, Hyundai Kona, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Subaru Forester are options that start at less than $30,000 and can earn top safety awards from the IIHS.
“You don’t have to spend $50,000 on a car. You can spend much less than that and get all the safety features that are important to you and your family,” he told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. “It’s not safety that’s driving costs up. It’s a consumer choice, and we’re all guilty.”
Harkey said she likes the heated seats, but relies on safety features like seat belts, airbags and automatic emergency braking to protect herself and her family.
Vehicle affordability was discussed during a controversial U.S. Senate committee hearing involving Moreno in November, which highlighted new safety technologies.
Affordability was also one of the topics Moreno addressed in pre-recorded comments aired at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
Additionally, a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing scheduled for January 14 to “examine how radical global warming regulations and mandated technologies are driving up auto prices for U.S. consumers” has been postponed. The CEOs of Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co., and Stellantis were also scheduled to attend, as well as key Tesla executives.
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Harkey said his organization doesn’t want laws or regulations to roll back safety progress. In a post on his website, Harkey pointed to federal analysis showing that the benefits of federal motor vehicle safety standards far outweigh the costs to consumers.
Notably, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported on its website in 2024 that “From 1968 to 2019, NHTSA safety standards prevented more than 860,000 deaths, more than 49 million non-fatal injuries, and 65 million vehicle damages on the nation’s roads.”
Eric D. Lawrence is senior auto culture reporter for the Detroit Free Press. Send your cool auto tips and suggestions to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
