Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
Apr 1, 2011 at 6:01am
I've reached my daily limit on Turkish conspriromacronomics, so I thought I'd share some good news.
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Comments :
Jun '10
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
Better cars with better safety devices (I'm willing to bet that most the devices were creations of private enterprise) and social shame and judicial accountability on impaired drivers ("shame" is still a useful device even in this deterministic age) seem to be key factors.
Also big, gas-guzzling SUVs are safer (though we can't mention that in polite company).
But note that we have lower fatalities after we finally raised freeway speeds. Anyone who has driven across Nevada and Wyoming on I-80 at 55 MPH could become a road rage case in the twinkling of an eye.
Edited on Apr 1, 2011 at 6:52amJul '10
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
Amazing how this coincides with the arrival of $5 gasoline and record unemployment.
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
I'm curious, though. I can't tell from the article if the lower death rate is because the accident rate has decreased, or if more people are surviving a constant number of accidents. If the former, the causes could vary from safety measures to behavior and even to a migration from certain cities and regions to more rural areas.
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
I am willing to appreciate the bright side in some things.
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
I think both--but as usual it would be good to look more closely at the data.
Jul '10
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
The most dangerous drivers on the road - apart from drunks - are teenagers. I suspect that $3.50 per gallon gasoline and record youth unemployment have substantially reduced the kids' joy-riding.
Nov '10
Re: Traffic Deaths in U.S. Drop to Lowest Level Since 1949
It seems the number of traffic deaths in 2010, 32,788, is the lowest in absolute number since 1949 when there were 30,246. If this is correct, and it may not be since it is the government saying so, it is astounding. It’s not a comparison of the traffic death rate per number of miles driven, it’s comparing the actual numbers.
I’m suspicious. If these numbers are accurate that will mean that the death rate per number of miles driven has fallen by several thousand percent, given the infinitesimal number of miles driven in 1949 to the number in 2010.
On the other hand, almost every crash over 30 mph killed somebody in 1949. Sure glad I never crashed my beloved ’49 Merc. That baby made the ton up more than once.
Edited on Apr 1, 2011 at 10:38am