Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

[Mark42]

Yep, that is the latest report from the The Transportation Department.

So after years of pounding the use of seat belts into peoples heads, and forcing the auto industry to spend billions on making cars safer with air bags, crumple zones, safety glass, smooth padded dashboards, better brakes, better headlights, better brake lights, etc, etc, etc..... We are dying at the same rate we did back when cars had NO safety belts, NO safety glass, NO crumple zones, NO high powered headlights, NO third brake lights, big sharp knobs on the bare steel dashboards, and rigid unbending bumpers bolted directly to the frame of the car and on and on .......

So what was the point of making cars "safer"?

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Us population in 1949 was around 149 million. In 2010, population was around 308 million or roughly double. We now drive more miles at higher speeds. It's just not the autos that have improved but also the barriers and other controls that keep autos away from each other at those speeds. In the late 60's and early 70's we were losing approximately 56,000 people on the highways every year and about the same number of young male adults in the whole Vietnam conflict. I don't want to question it too much, just thankful for the reduction in deaths from each event.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

The total death count is now lower than 1949. The deaths per mile driven has been decreasing quite a bit over the last couple of decades.

Today's cars are a marvel of engineering. There are safety features built into the safety features. I have seen people walk away from wrecks that would have killed people 20 or 30 years ago. I am all for driving cars that let us go home to our families after we make a mistake.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Ummmm. Might want to read that again.
In 1949, 30,246 fatalities, with a fatality rate of 7.126 per million miles.
In 2010, 32,788 fatalities, with a fatality rate of 1.09 per million miles.
Roughly the same amount of fatalities, but 7 times the amount of miles traveled. This does not even take into account the amplifying effect of congestion in the figures.
Thanks, I'll keep my 2010 car.
Sources: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811451.pdf
http://www.saferoads.org/federal/2004/TrafficFatalities1899-2003.pdf

 

[bassman284]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Think how low it would be if we got rid of the stupid cell phones.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Think how low it would be if we got rid of the stupid cell phones.

Think how low it would be if we got rid of the stupid drivers.

Had to fix that up for you.

 

[Cofe]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Also factor in the equation that fewer people are on the road because of higher fuel prices.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

In 1949, 30,246 fatalities, with a fatality rate of 7.126 per million miles.
In 2010, 32,788 fatalities, with a fatality rate of 1.09 per million miles.

Repeated for emphasis.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Wow, only 32,788 people killed, lives ruined, many others maimed! Great statistics! Gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling every time I get on the road!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Call your congressman. We have to ban cars, roads, drivers, gasoline, whatever it takes.

What is the price of 1 life?
How can we let this murderous activity continue?

(Sorry mods, have at it.)

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Too bad that drivers don't come with the same sort of built-in safety features that they now put in cars.

"Hold my beer. I want to try something...".

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=378884
Seems to be a trend.

 

[JRJ]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

It amazes me how many die in otherwise survivable wrecks because they didn't buckle in.

 

[McGR]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

And we can expect lower auto insurance rates when?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

And we can expect lower auto insurance rates when?

About 18 years years ago I was in an accident that caused a lot of damage to me. My auto insurance company spent hundreds of thousands of dollars paying my medical bills (Im sure they went after the other company for re-reimbursement). I had a $1000 deductible. They paid the rest.

Thats one reason rates are so high.

And I did mis-read the article, I thought they said the death rate was the same as in 1949. My mistake.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

About 18 years years ago I was in an accident that caused a lot of damage to me. My auto insurance company spent hundreds of thousands of dollars paying my medical bills (Im sure they went after the other company for re-reimbursement). I had a $1000 deductible. They paid the rest.

Thats one reason rates are so high.

And I did mis-read the article, I thought they said the death rate was the same as in 1949. My mistake.

The way I read the tables your subject line is completely accurate...
Lowest #s since 1949.

 

[achris]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

So, 32,788 people a year killed. That's about 90 per day! We have about 2 shark attacks per year and it makes world news... Go figure...

 

[achris]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Also factor in the equation that fewer people are on the road because of higher fuel prices.

That's already 'factored in' by virtue of using deaths per million miles traveled.

 

[12vMan]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

So what was the point of making cars "safer"?

We're going a lot faster now too so you have to factor that in.

 

[IES99]

Re: Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1949

Today's cars and roads, while not perfect, are so much better than at any time in the past that the mortality/miles driven was bound to go down drastically from the death traps of yesteryear.

Want some proof?: COLOR]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g