The BBC recently aired an interview from its archives to mark November 30, 1965, when Ralph Nader published his first book, Unsafe at Any Speed.

This maiden work by a twentysomething author quickly became a bestseller and ushered in an era when American citizens found their voices, and moved beyond blind consumerism to protect their interests in the face of rapacious businessmen.

The book was the result of several years of research by the young Nader into American cars seeming to cause so many deaths when involved in accidents.

Nader happened to draw these conclusions when, as a somewhat bored yet exceptional law student at Harvard, he would skip class and follow his passion for travel by hitchhiking across the country’s highways.

He would too often come across devastating accident sites which seemingly led to unnecessary serious injury and death.

Nader, with his inquiring mind, collaborated with friends who were studying engineering; thus substantiating his hunches.

This emerging champion of the people was able to identify problems and offer solutions that were life-saving. From inflexible steering columns that literally speared drivers in collisions, he suggested the necessity of a collapsible design. The list goes on to include the need for three-point seatbelts, door locks that worked reasonably, tyre standards that kept cars on the road.

Nader’s efforts were made easier since most of these standards were ensured by law for European cars, but his success made him a target for many from the boardrooms of Detroit, otherwise known as Motor City.

While volunteering for the supportive US senator Abraham Ribicoff, Nader secured evidence of the GM chief executive of the day playing “dirty tricks” on him and the senator set up a commission.

This proved that the company engaged in wiretapping and other unsavoury tactics, and Nader was awarded almost $500,000, which he used to formalise his campaign by establishing the Centre for Responsive Law.

According to the BBC, research on the impact of Nader’s transformative work ushered in on November 30, 1965, has saved the lives of more than three million American road users.

Nader’s contribution did not end with automobiles; he is credited with playing a key part in a number of other collaborative efforts. These include pieces of legislation that have improved the lives of many: the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Clean Water Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Whistleblowers Protection Act.

During this time when local and international news is filled with allegations of corruption by many who claim to have the public interest at heart, we are reminded by a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt.

The former First Lady made the point that the world can be improved by the actions of a few or even a single person — as long as those involved cleave fearlessly to integrity.

Ralph Nader has lived a life that has offered that example to us all.