In a rather ironic twist, I found myself reflecting on a recent news piece about Volkswagen’s ID.Buzz electric van recall just after finishing an in-depth review of a book critiquing the rigidity of regulations that allow for no exceptions. The story, which you can read here, highlights the absurdity of regulatory compliance in today’s automotive world.
Vehicle recalls are not uncommon, often prompted by genuine safety concerns. For instance, a car I purchased a few years back was recalled due to a software glitch that could cause the cruise control to accelerate uncontrollably—an evident and valid reason for a fix. But what about the ID.Buzz? What critical error warranted a recall in this case?
In a twist of fate, it appears that the ID.Buzz has too much room in its back row. While many three-row vehicles are designed with cramped, uncomfortable seating, Volkswagen opted for a more spacious and comfortable setup. However, this generous design did not sit well with regulators. The back row features two seats wide enough for two full-sized adults. The concern? Regulators feared that this ample space might tempt some passengers to squeeze in a third person without a seatbelt. As a result, the only acceptable solution is to ensure that the seats are barely wide enough for two adults, leaving no room for error—quite literally.
To comply with regulatory standards, Volkswagen will now be retrofitting these vehicles by adding a barrier between the two seats, effectively converting comfortable seating into a cramped arrangement as mandated by law. Many current ID.Buzz owners may choose to ignore this recall, but future buyers won’t have that luxury.
While it’s true that some individuals might still engage in risky behavior—like trying to cram three passengers into a space meant for two—the list of ways people can make poor decisions is virtually limitless. At what point do sensible regulations begin to morph into a world where someone like Mrs. Grundy looms over us, incessantly admonishing, “No, stop! You might hurt yourself!” at every turn?
When daily life becomes less about “give me liberty or give me death” and more about “please regulate my seating space to prevent me from making bad choices,” we can safely say we’ve crossed a significant line in the landscape of personal freedom and responsibility.
