In August 2011, the National Fire Protection Association released a report title "Fire Sprinklers versus Automobile Airbags:  Lessons in Interpreting Claims Made for Intervention Effectiveness and Need."

Written by John R. Hall, Jr., the report compares the claims against home fire sprinklers (cost versus risk/benefit) and similar arguments against automobile airbags and seatbelts when they were introduced more than 20 years ago.

View the report here.

Highlights from the report:

Average-sized new home, cost of sprinklers=$3-4,000 or 1-2% of the home cost.

Cost of dual front airbags in the late 1980's (before mandates and rapid rise of popularity)=$1,000 (7% of new car price)

Home smoke alarms reduce risk of death by about 50% yet smoke alarms are found to be not working in 1/3 of home fires.

A 1976 article estimated use of seat belts reduced risk of dying in a crash by 50%; yet 2/3 of drivers surveyed at the time indicated they did not use seat belts.

Low cost technology works for a while but relies on the user to to change behavior.  Improved technology (airbags and residential fire sprinklers) engineers the safety into the product.