Traffic deaths per billion kilometers (620 million miles) driven in the United States fell to 9 from 30 between 1970 and 2005. Instead of celebrating this good news, the NY Times finds in it another example of killer individualism. The 1970 figure made U.S. roads the safest in the world, but the 2005 figure ranks America 11th, just ahead of France and Japan. The Times article also compares road deaths per 100,000 population, where we rank 42nd of 48.
A 67 percent decline in fatalities by distance is impressive, regardless what ranking applies. To then complain about the U.S. culture that values individualism above the nanny state is disingenuous. The reporter cites New Hampshire’s lack of a seatbelt law, but does not compare that states road deaths with any other state. New Hampshire, according to National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration data, has one of the lowest fatality rates in the country. From 1994 through 2004, New Hampshire averaged 1.12 deaths per 100 million miles driven. Vermont averaged 1.26 deaths. North Carolina averaged 1.78 deaths over the decade.
And you thought it was just op-ed columnists who got to ignore facts.
HT: jalopnik
