Randa Abdel-Fattah

Fatal car crashes were nearly five times more common back then. And it seemed like everyone knew someone who'd been in a serious accident. But the prevailing narrative was that this was a matter of user error. People were being reckless drivers. And that didn't make sense to Nader. How could it be that commuting to work or going grocery shopping could amount to a death sentence for so many people?

And when I was at law school... He set out to bust the myth of the open road.

And when I was at law school... He set out to bust the myth of the open road.

And when I was at law school... He set out to bust the myth of the open road.

But that informed consumer citizen first had to be awakened. And so Nader threw up his bat signal to concern consumers across the nation. It came in the form of a book that he started to write after graduating law school. And the book opened with the case of one car in particular.

But that informed consumer citizen first had to be awakened. And so Nader threw up his bat signal to concern consumers across the nation. It came in the form of a book that he started to write after graduating law school. And the book opened with the case of one car in particular.

But that informed consumer citizen first had to be awakened. And so Nader threw up his bat signal to concern consumers across the nation. It came in the form of a book that he started to write after graduating law school. And the book opened with the case of one car in particular.

These are excerpts from that book, Unsafe at Any Speed, the designed-in dangers of the American automobile.

These are excerpts from that book, Unsafe at Any Speed, the designed-in dangers of the American automobile.

These are excerpts from that book, Unsafe at Any Speed, the designed-in dangers of the American automobile.

Publicly, General Motors had nothing to say. But the allegations hit hard, because GM was a titan. At the time the book was published, they were the world's largest car manufacturer, responsible for nearly half of all U.S. automotive sales.

Publicly, General Motors had nothing to say. But the allegations hit hard, because GM was a titan. At the time the book was published, they were the world's largest car manufacturer, responsible for nearly half of all U.S. automotive sales.

Publicly, General Motors had nothing to say. But the allegations hit hard, because GM was a titan. At the time the book was published, they were the world's largest car manufacturer, responsible for nearly half of all U.S. automotive sales.

It didn't take long for Unsafe at Any Speed to start drawing the attention of important people in the capital, including a young woman who would be instrumental in turning Ralph's words into action.

It didn't take long for Unsafe at Any Speed to start drawing the attention of important people in the capital, including a young woman who would be instrumental in turning Ralph's words into action.

It didn't take long for Unsafe at Any Speed to start drawing the attention of important people in the capital, including a young woman who would be instrumental in turning Ralph's words into action.

At the time, Joan was in Washington, D.C., on a fellowship working with James A. Mackey, a U.S. representative from Georgia.

At the time, Joan was in Washington, D.C., on a fellowship working with James A. Mackey, a U.S. representative from Georgia.

At the time, Joan was in Washington, D.C., on a fellowship working with James A. Mackey, a U.S. representative from Georgia.

The book hit home for Joan.