The balance of benefit versus harm of an activity, device, technology or substance.
Questions tagged [safety]
158 questions
8
votes
1 answer
Would lowering the speed limit in NYC by 5mph lower the number of pedestrian deaths by a factor of 2?
According to the Mayor of New York City, De Blasio: (my emphasis)
Excessive speed contributes to 25 percent of roadway fatalities on New York City Streets and is the leading cause of motor vehicle crashes. Reducing vehicle speed from 30 to 25 mph…
ike
- 4,950
- 1
- 20
- 52
8
votes
4 answers
Does prohibition make illegal drugs less safe?
In a recent article in Mises Daily, Benjamin Wiegold argues:
The Drug War Makes Drugs Less Safe
Is his argument right that legalising recreational drugs would improve the quality of supply and reduce the harms they cause?
matt_black
- 56,186
- 16
- 175
- 373
7
votes
2 answers
Are added nitrates and nitrites in our diet harmful?
It is widely claimed that meat-curing agents containing nitrates or nitrites are dangerous food additives.
This site puts them in a top ten list of bad food and recommends avoiding cured meats, explaining:
Many foods, especially cured meats such as…
matt_black
- 56,186
- 16
- 175
- 373
7
votes
1 answer
Are synthetically produced chemicals not found in nature more likely to be harmful than naturally occurring ones?
Since everything is made from chemicals the often made claim that we should avoid food that doesn't contain chemicals doesn't make any sense. But the underlying idea that synthetic chemicals are somehow particularly dangerous seems to persist and is…
matt_black
- 56,186
- 16
- 175
- 373
7
votes
1 answer
Is it safe to drink 'expired' cola/pop/soda in an aluminum can?
I understand that carbonation might not last forever, and diet beverages don't taste good after a period of time, but I've always believed that the expiry date on the can doesn't matter, provided it's sealed and still carbonated when you open it, it…
wweicker
- 171
- 1
- 5
7
votes
1 answer
Should you wash tuna cans before opening them?
My dad told us we need to wash tuna cans before opening them because canned food (at least tuna) is imported on ships and rats really like to "take a trip" on these ships, too. They touch those cans and thus contaminate them.
Do I really need to…
user12686317
- 1
- 3
7
votes
0 answers
Do defensive driving courses reduce car accidents in teenage drivers?
A fairly common claim is that young learner drivers should take defensive driving courses so that they know what to do if they lose control of their car. This comes with the implications it will reduce accidents.
Is there any evidence to back up…
user1605665
- 6,751
- 6
- 27
- 48
7
votes
2 answers
Is the self-driving car technology of 2017 less lethal than human drivers?
Youtube channel veritasium, on a video called "The real moral dilemma of self-driving cars" (ref) claims that if all cars in 2017 were self-driving, hundreds of lives could be saved.
So he is claming that the self-driving technology of 2017 would be…
Mindwin Remember Monica
- 3,289
- 4
- 16
- 32
7
votes
2 answers
Does teaching 6-12-month old infants to back float reduce their risk of drowning?
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend water safety lessons for babies less than one year old:
The water-survival skills programs for infants may make compelling videos for the Internet, but no scientific study has yet demonstrated…
ff524
- 10,181
- 6
- 47
- 60
7
votes
1 answer
Are there harmful levels of mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)?
Are there harmful levels of mercury in High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)?
I was first alerted by this article which claims:
She was then promptly shipped a big vat of HFCS that was used as part
of the study that showed that HFCS often contains…
user2547
7
votes
1 answer
Are sprout seeds safe to eat?
In this article called “8 façons de t’intoxiquer à un barbecue” (which could be translated by “8 ways to poison yourself at a barbecue”), a Canadian skeptic talks about sprout seeds :
I would translate that by:
As for raw sprouts (bean sprouts,…
Einenlum
- 1,293
- 1
- 7
- 21
7
votes
0 answers
Are chicken haunches especially toxic?
There have been some health concerns raised (mainly through word of mouth) with regards to the toxicity of chicken haunches.
Apparently, in the industrial breeding and rearing of chickens many harmful chemicals, excessive antibiotics and growth…
Huey
- 1,131
- 2
- 7
- 12
7
votes
1 answer
Do directional tread patterns on tires reduce hydroplaning?
Treaded car tires are said to be better at avoiding hydroplaning than smooth tires (slicks) in the rain. In particular, directional treads are thought to be the best.
The following is an example of that claim:
Hydroplaning: the Role Tires…
Eklimek
- 71
- 1
7
votes
2 answers
Do fire shelters save lives?
19 wildfire firefighters died in Arizona today, and the articles mention that they appear to have used their fire shelters:
the 19 firefighters were found in an area that also had 19 fire shelters deployed. Some of those found were inside a…
Drew
- 491
- 3
- 10
7
votes
2 answers
Is a repaired car tire as good as a new one?
I recently had one of my car tires punctured by a screw. It lost pressure only very slowly, it probably took a couple of days before I noticed the tire was below pressure. The guys from the tire company removed the screw, and then somehow "fixed"…
BaGi
- 1,275
- 3
- 12
- 24