At the early 60's, 50,000 americans were death in traffic crashes every year. There were specifical and noticed engineering details used to change the manufacturing processes, but the car, known as a symbol of status and personalism, was untouchable. All of this changed, when the Ralph Nader's classical "Unsafe at Any Speed" was released. This book tells about the criminous negligence of automobile industry. People were shocked, and then sterted to pay atention to engineers's advices, what made a decreasing indeaths numbers.

Source: http://noticias.uol.com.br/midiaglobal/eleicoeseua/outros.jhtm

 

Case of GM Vectra's explosion who killed 4 in Brazil will have to be in Media - July/2008

Brazilian judge, Amini Haddad Campos, estabilished this week another punishment to General Motors Company and the Insurance Company Ace S.A., about the Vectra explosion's tragedy occured in 1999, burning 4 people unitl their death. Besides the indemnation in R$ 6 million, the manufacturer will have to show up the case in the media.

According to lawyer Margareth Paiva, the second decision is result of the expedient of the victim's family, who entered with a statement's charge, which is something used to avoid Justice contraditions or omissions. "In this case, family understood that were omission from the judge about the money correction, taxes, the sending to Public Ministery (MP) and in notice all costumers", she said.

The sentence says: "Due to many interests resulting from statements realized inthese cases, we condemn General Motors in the massive media, the obligation in anounce to warn the customers up to 30 days, counting by the condemnatory sentece date.

According to the research signed by the Mechanic and Safety Engineer, Durval Botolelo, who lead the expertness in 1999 GM Vectra, who burned atfer an explosion caused by a fail in the car fuel system. Antonio Salvino Pedemonte de Araújo (49), and his parents, Heronides de Aquino Araújo (89) and Itala Pedemonte Araújo (86), and also the parens' nurse, Maria Dometila Gusmão (57) were killed burned in the accident.

GM Vectra driven by Antonio, left Cuiabá (Brazil) to Barra do Garças, about 7 a.m.. After a stop in Primavera do Leste, Edda Pedemonte Araujo, who also was in the car, with the intention in proporcionate more comfort change her place to another family's car, who was following the first one. At that moment, she had anarrow scape from death.

50 miles before they arrive in Barra do Garças, the car bursted into flames.The driver, with his body in flames, wouldt hrown himself off the car, still in movement, because the body was found 50 meters far from the car. His mother, Itala Pedemonte, also came to left the car, but she died carbonized at the road. Edda Pedemonte, was in the car behind them, watched all the horror scene and until now lives by the effect of medications.

General Motors can still appeal from the decision, but the lawyer who acts in Mato Grosso, Oswaldo Pereira Cardoso Filho, said that he wouldn't give any other information about the case.

Source: http://bbcnews.com.br/index.php?p=noticias&cat=96&nome=Acidente&id=137263