

Less deaths thanks to safer cars and other factors









Comments     Threshold


RE: collision numbers?
By Solandri on 4/1/2011 2:05:03 PM , Rating: 2
Accident rates are difficult to track because not all accidents get reported. If you get into a minor fender bender with your neighbor which just scuffs your bumper, you're probably not going to call your insurance company about it.

Fatalities are nearly always reported, which makes it a pretty reliable comprehensive stat. Injuries requiring hospitalization is also another stat that NHTSA tracks.

The auto insurance industry probably has some data on financial losses from accidents, but I wasn't able to find it in a quick search of their site.

I can tell you from my 10 years of DOT experience that that is not true. From the ground up, roadways are built according to standards that hinge on safety.

I can attest to this. I've driven in many other countries, and the roads in Europe and the US/Canada are simply better designed from a safety standpoint. Little things you won't notice until they're gone, like how the highway is tilted just right on a curve, or how a road is angled against a hill to maximize visibility as you're approaching the peak, or how a road is curved in such a way that a vehicle losing brakes going downhill is directed away from oncoming traffic.

