US traffic fatalities in the last 10 years

[Old Mechanic]

US Road Accident Casualties: Every one mapped across America - CleanMPG Forums

Although I am a member, I haven't posted there in years, and probably will not any time soon, this is a very sobering topic.

In my lifetime, it's close to 2 million in the US, more than all wars combined?

regards
Mech

[SVOboy]

Here's a link to the actual article: US road accident casualties: every one mapped across America | News | guardian.co.uk

Having lived in Japan for a while now it's really easy to understand how many lives have been wasted due to the United States' shamefully poor infrastructure, safety requirements, driving license regulations, police and emergency services, etc etc...

[euromodder]

If you see that some states don't even have a periodic technical vehicle check, I'm not really surprised. If I see what some members are driving, you won't get that out on the road in most of Europe.

Then again, every time I'm driving around in the US, I'm surprised at how easily & relaxed traffic flows ! Returning home to the hectic traffic pace is a shocker.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by euromodder

If I see what some members are driving, you won't get that out on the road in most of Europe.

On the other hand, what percentage of accidents do you supposed are caused by mechanical problems that could be caught by such a check? I'd guess under 1%, and that most are caused by the nut holding the steering wheel.

[Old Mechanic]

The US certainly has no shortage of nuts. I see such stupidity every day for such pitiful advantage-benefit. People dying for nothing more than trying to get in front of another driver when the risk in doing so is ridiculous.

regards
Mech

[Frank Lee]

Including the classic "hurry up and pass before diving onto the off ramp"- happens to me about every time I drive out of town. I don't get it.

Our drivers are so bad and misinformed I think a quiz or some sort of refresher should be mandatory at license renewal time, just so that certain rules of driving have been thought of sooner than 30 years ago- not that it was all that comprehensive in the first place.

[cfg83]

Hello -

Now I know the age of the girl's shrine at the telephone poll on Manhattan Beach Blvd :



I am going to use this data to analyze the danger zones in my commute. For instance, the 710x60 interchange is pretty bad :



CarloSW2

[SentraSE-R]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Our drivers are so bad and misinformed I think a quiz or some sort of refresher should be mandatory at license renewal time, just so that certain rules of driving have been thought of sooner than 30 years ago- not that it was all that comprehensive in the first place.

I was in line to get my drivers license exam graded in Colorado. This old guy & his younger companion (daughter?) couldn't get an answer, & asked everyone in line for the answer.

I got to the clerk, pointed out the offending couple, and complained about them, saying I didn't want to be on the same road with those cheating dunderheads on my motorcycle. He said it wouldn't do any good, as they'd just go to another DMV office.

So, what good will a quiz do with a system as corrupt as US driver licensing?

[Old Mechanic]

Here they require you to take the test in a cubicle and no conversation with anyone is allowed or you are immediately shown the door. I guess my background of solution oriented thinking is just obsolete in today's world. Just another old fool who has no concept of what will or won't work. I have asked many State troopers here why they just don't start really nailing the common offenses I see every day in the hundreds. Save lives and balance the budget. I could carry a video capable system with me daily and probably keep the traffic courts full single handed.

Aggressive driving here has become second nature, even to mothers, with a cell phone stuck in their ear driving 5k pounds of SUV 20 feet off your back bumper at 65 MPH, 100 feet per second with absolutely no room for even reaction time.

It would be nice to live in an area of the country where there were miles and miles of roads without a single traffic fatality in a decade, but to go there would require me leaving all of those I care about including the wife. Peace and quiet at such a high price, sometimes is a very tempting alternative.

regards
Mech

[Frank Lee]

Aggressive driving here has become second nature, even to mothers, with a cell phone stuck in their ear driving 5k pounds of SUV 20 feet off your back bumper at 65 MPH, 100 feet per second with absolutely no room for even reaction time.

Ah, so it's not just me being paranoid! Yup, when there's a monster truck 8" off my back bumper on the highway, it's almost always one of these^^^^.