Stop the Blame Game

A fundamental part of engineering is to identify potential risks, hazards and dangers through Design Failure Mode Analysis, Failure Mode Effects Analysis and fault tree analysis.

The engineer’s job should include evaluating every potential use and misuse of the product. Once the identification of potential risks, hazards and dangers is conducted, then the engineer can address ways to design away, guard against and warn users of the identified risks, hazards and dangers of a given product.

Nowhere does the concept of blame the consumer or user enter the engineering triad. Engineers need to get back to the basics of protecting everyone equally who ride in vehicles regardless of whether or not it is mandated by Federal Safety standards. The code of ethics for engineers is simple:

	Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties, shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public.

Applying the engineering triad to child safety issues requires that children and adults be protected equally.