The routine act of driving has become the riskiest thing most Americans do

[The Straight Story]

Counting the dead along America's killer roads

The routine act of driving has become the riskiest thing most Americans do, producing more horrific body counts than any modern war or terrorist act.

More than 100 people perish every day on America's killer roads.

While the carnage has fallen in recent years, 37,261 individuals died in vehicular accidents in 2008 -- that's still more than 10 times the number who died in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Most of the traffic fatalities can be attributed to excessive speed, alcohol-impairment or failure to wear seat belts. Drivers distracted while texting, eating or using their cell phones are also a growing concern.

But often the roads themselves are to blame.

http://www.scrippsnews.com/content/counting-dead-along-americas-killer-roads

[TexasObserver]

1. Three times as many Americans die daily from infections gotten in hospitals.

You're three times more likely to die from an infection you got while in a hospital than you are to die in a vehicle accident.

We fret about auto accidents when the real killer is our health care system and the hospitals it runs for profit only.

[ashling]

6. What percentage of those were in the hospital

because of automobile accidents? :shrug: :crazy:

[msongs]

2. 400 K die from tobacco use but there is no war on tobacco terrorists nt

[The Straight Story]

4. WTF does that have to do with the OP?

I suppose I could make it have something to do with it (like, cars are far more dangerous on avg than guns/smoking to those who are not carrying/smoking, etc). But really, the OP was just bringing up an issue one might think worth looking at.

Personally though I am not all for the whole seat belt thing (wear mine) being worthy of a ticket. My RW bro-in-law is a 'seat belt Nazi' and only took his off once, to roll over and he fell asleep. The driver fell asleep too (they had been hunting all morning). The car slammed into the back of a dump truck and my BIL was thrown from the car - saved his life. His best friend died.

He still wears one, still insists everyone in his car does (or if he is riding with you will bitch a blue streak if you don't wear one), but he made his choice that day and it saved his life.

His body, his choice. Something, for me anyway, that extends beyond just one topic.

[Orrex]

3. I make it a point only to run over smokers who have hospital-induced infections.

[kestrel91316]

5. I would bet that pedestrianing is riskier by far than driving.

Don't get me started.

[benEzra]

7. Driving is safer than it's ever been, so the spin here is ironic.

Yes, there's still room for improvement, but the sky isn't falling.