Advocacy & Safety - Interesting stats on driving...

http://www.forbes.com/vehicles/2009/01/21/car-accident-times-forbeslife-cx_he_0121driving.html?partner=yahoobuzz


Speeding is a factor in 30% of all fatal crashes, according to the NHTSA. Eighteen percent of fatal crashes during the day are alcohol-related, while 54% of crashes at night are alcohol-related. Two-thirds of the people killed at night are not wearing a seat belt.


Ninety-five percent of crashes are caused by human error, says Rae Tyson, a spokesman for the NHTSA, but 75% of drivers say they're more careful than most other drivers.


According to AAA, 82% of drivers say distracted driving is a serious problem, but more than half say they talk on a cellphone while driving, and 14% admitted to reading or sending text messages while driving.

Gene ... you really should read the book Traffic.

Gene ... you really should read the book Traffic.

I have it on reserve at the local library... looking forward to it. Thanks

Gene ... you really should read the book Traffic.

I just started reading it, and so far it seems that much of it seems concerned with the amount of time we spend in traffic, and how certain behavoir can cost or save us time. I'm hoping I'll get to the safety parts soon. (I kind of jumped around)

I just started reading it, and so far it seems that much of it seems concerned with the amount of time we spend in traffic, and how certain behavoir can cost or save us time. I'm hoping I'll get to the safety parts soon. (I kind of jumped around)

I don't recall sequence being that important although the final chapters do try to bring the different aspects together. IMO, the interesting part of the book is about cognitive limitations, human perception, and how they relate to driving/traffic engineering.

Thinking about it more, it would be worthwhile to read in sequence.

"Ninety-five percent of crashes are caused by human error, says Rae Tyson, a spokesman for the NHTSA, but 75% of drivers say they're more careful than most other drivers."


Lol What a great quantification of human nature.

Assuming these forums are right, 100% of people speed at least 450% the speed limit, so I'm surprised only 30% of crashes have excessive speed as a factor.

BTW: Almost got into an accident today at below normal speed hitting an oil slick, boo.

Just look at how poorly skilled/educated the average american driver is and then consider that 50% are even worse... ;-)

"Ninety-five percent of crashes are caused by human error, says Rae Tyson, a spokesman for the NHTSA, but 75% of drivers say they're more careful than most other drivers."


Lol What a great quantification of human nature.

That's like the statistic that something like 70% of people think they are above average looking. Ummm... statistically impossible. ;)

BTW: Almost got into an accident today at below normal speed hitting an oil slick, boo.

Wow, what an odd exception!

That's like the statistic that something like 70% of people think they are above average looking. Ummm... statistically impossible. ;)

Actually, if you define 'average' as the mean, it's completely possible, if beauty is distributed such that the below-average looking people are all really, really, ugly. ;)

"Ninety-five percent of crashes are caused by human error, says Rae Tyson, a spokesman for the NHTSA, but 75% of drivers say they're more careful than most other drivers."


Lol What a great quantification of human nature.

That's like the statistic that something like 70% of people think they are above average looking. Ummm... statistically impossible. ;)
It is statistically quite possible.
LOL indeed. Why not consider the possibility that 95% of crashes may be caused by the 25% of drivers who say they are less careful than other drivers? Accidents are not necessarily distributed evenly among all drivers in the population.

You might also consider how human error is defined to come up with the 95% determination; its easy to Monday Morning Quarter Back a crash scene proclaiming what each driver shoulda done, not so easy to be 100% perfect otherwise.

Wow, what an odd exception!

Not really I just want to whine about road conditions after the inevitable "wash all the **** into the street" rain.