What Price Speed?

摘要

It is well established that speed costs. A jet flight costs more than a bus trip. A racing car costs more than the family van. A hasty decision can have untold costs. For example, in the panic that seized the nation after it was found that asbestos contributed to lung cancer the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quickly established a standard (regulation) that asbestos used in fire-proofing buildings was to be removed. It is now known, after the expenditure of over USD 20 billion, in-situ stabilization would have been less hazardous, and far less costly.This is not to say there are times when speed is not essential. Treatment of cardiac arrest, response to fires, and defense against incoming bombers should not be delayed. Even in the field of standards, there are times when speed is critical. In the early 1970s, the Arab oil embargo against the United States created a shortage of gasoline. One way to ease the shortage was the reformation of the octane content of gasoline. What was needed was a revised standard method of testing for octane content. The willing parties to such a revised test method were the petroleum companies, the auto manufacturers, and state and federal authorities. A new standard was developed, written, published, and on the market in 87 days. What determined speed? Need.