Comment by terminalshort

Very few regulations are written in blood. In fact, the ones you mention in your comment were not.

Most regulations are written for reasons that have nothing to do with that:

1. Genuine public interest, but not safety related

2. To appease a loud interest group whose political influence greatly exceeds their numbers

3. As quid pro quo for support for a campaign contribution

4. To prevent unwanted competition to a politically powerful industry or union

5. Because it is in the interest of government employees who write the regulations, but not he general public

6. It is a particular pet issue of a powerful politician

7. As a flailing and arbitrary "we have to do something, and this is something" response to a moral panic