Sort of. RTFM is not only applicable with regard to computers. Cars qualify as well.
Slate's Emily Bazelon doesn't read the owners' manual for her car, does something the owners' manual explicitly says not to do—recline a seat in a moving car—and hurts herself. Bazelon blames... the automaker and NHTSA for not doing more to warn her, and serves as a mouthpiece for plaintiffs' lawyers who specialize in such arguments, lionizing one who won a $59 million verdict against Toyota for his client's own foolhardiness.
And now some advice:
Keep your eyes on the road. Don't pass a car in a no-pass zone or drive twice the speed-limit. Sit up straight, especially in a front seat with airbags. Don't have loose heavy objects (including unbelted passengers) in the passenger compartment of the car. Don't permit children to play with power windows; don't leave children unattended in a car that is on; don't leave the car on when you're not in it; don't try to jump into a moving vehicle. Don't leave your shoes loose while driving. Be careful when shifting gears. Do not violently swerve an SUV, especially if there are unbelted passengers. Always be aware of the danger of pedal misapplication. Don't fall asleep while driving. Don't drive recklessly, and if you do, don't leave the road. Use your parking brake when you park. Replace a tire after repeatedly patching it; don't drive on bald tires in the rain; and replace your ten-year old tires before you have to drive on a spare. Make sure your floor mat isn't interfering with the pedals. Don't drive into the back of a truck at 60 mph without braking.
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