Volkswagen's Excess Emissions Will Kill 59 Americans

A new MIT/Harvard study calculates the number of early American deaths caused by the emissions scandal (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...excess-emissions-will-kill-59-americans-study). I love these peer-reviewed studies. The logic of it all is maddening. Fascinating facts, capturing the attention of the media, will no doubt make it into the Congressional Record. There are an estimated 482,000 affected vehicles on the road, and 59 persons will die an early death. Give me a break. Lesssee: 59/482000 = a very, very tiny number. Statisticians should arise in protest. At least the company had the sense to refuse comment on the study published in Environmental Research Letters (http://www.wired.com/2015/10/new-study-links-vws-emissions-cheating-59-deaths/).

Just to be clear, note that I am not defending Volkswagen for its cheating on emissions testing. I am commenting on the ludicrous analytical research study.

 

The researchers and their fear-mongering. I wonder how they got those figures. These days any time I read something like this I think it's a way to manipulate the market. If Volkswagen vehicles won't be "safe" till 2016 then it would seem that Volkswagen stock will stay down for a while and anyone who buys it and waits can make a killing from it a year or so from now.

 

I'd also be taking those results with a pinch if salt to be honest and to me, it just seems like research that's been done as a media talking point rather than to factually portray what IS going to happen due to the Volkswagen issue.

 

From what I gathered, the Volkswagen issue on pollution was about the so called computer box. I have read that the computer box has the data of all activities that are related to the condition of the car's engine. Even the oil is monitored and information is saved in the computer box. Now, the Volkswagen cars in issue have the computer box monitoring with a wrong gauge. In other words, the level of pollution was wrong so a critical level that should emit a warning was not sensed. Blame it on the programmers of that computer box.

 

Are they serious?

How did they ever come to that number, draw it out of a hat or something? While the emissions cheating is not good by any means, I think more people will be effected by issues such as what JR Ewing said a few posts up before they emissions get to them.

Totally stupid and another case of keeping the masses all locked in fear.

 

On a related note, VW shareholders aren't feeling so well either. Breaking news: Moody's hit VW's credit rating with a downgrades (http://www.france24.com/en/20151104-moodys-cuts-vws-credit-rating-amid-emissions-scandal). My guess is there are more than 59 persons seeking relief using headache meds or spirits in corked glass cylinders.

 

I can also see a BS lawsuit further down the line as well as people like a good claim these days as we all know.

I can see it now..."i never had an headache in my entire life, and was always a fit and active person...that's until I bought a Volkswagen!!!

 

Pwarbi, yesterday I saw my first TV advert from a lawyer group trolling for VW owners. Like the usual medical stuff, please call for an immediate interview to evaluate your potential case. Gimme a break...