I have anecdotal evidence of the importance of State automobile safety inspections. In Texas, an annual safety inspection is required for all registered cars at a cost to the owner of, I think, $14.50. There is no such requirement in Arkansas. Since moving to Arkansas, I have seen a remarkable number of vehicles with burned out headlights, fog lights, tail lights, and brake lights…far more than I ever saw in Texas. My conclusion: the only people who notice the burned out lights are people in other cars…because there’s no requirement to have the vehicle checked periodically. I wonder about the percentage of cars in Arkansas that also have inadequate tire tread, dangerously thin brake pads or disks, or other potentially unsafe conditions? That’s what I’m thinking today.