Living Car Free - Leading Cause of Death

'Among the new findings: pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycle riders make up almost half of the deaths. '

“Very few people realize that this is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and the leading cause of death for young people,” Dr. Krug said. “Because it happens one by one, here and there and not in mass events, it gets less attention.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/world/16traffic.html?ref=health

I'm one of the ignorant ones who didn't realize cars kill so many people. If this is true it makes the people who want to ban guns look silly.

BS. Everyone knows that the leading cause of death is birth! 100% mortality rate.

last i knew, over 44k people die each year in the USA, in their car.
in their car
actually in their car
not in the hospital
not en route to the hospital
but actually
in their car

last night I even read a line in a book, "On the REZ"
"among the Navajo, the largest tribe in the United States, car accidents are the leading cause of death."
Ian Frazier (page 8)

7/2006
Prince of Tonga dies in car accident
while visiting the USA
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5156780.stm

Please do not point out these disturbing statistics. We would rather not think about it.

That quoted statement isn't true for the USA. It takes into account all of the world.

Over 180,000 people die each year in US hospitals from medical mistakes. A few years ago I saw that number was over 300,000. It seems that hospitals are the leading killers of people in the USA. They kill four times more people per year than car accidents.

Look at this table. It is fascinating.

http://www.ourcivilisation.com/medicine/usamed/deaths.htm

Those of us with TVs have probably seen news stories from around the developing world where they video the stories outside. I'm amazed at the chaos on the streets. I'm surprised that I haven't seen someone hit by a car or motorcycle during any broadcasts.

Over 180,000 people die each year in US hospitals from medical mistakes. A few years ago I saw that number was over 300,000. It seems that hospitals are the leading killers of people in the USA. They kill four times more people per year than car accidents.



and how do these people get into a Hospital
in a car
and how is it that their health brings them to a Hospital
in a car
and how is that they pay insurance for their health
by going to work
in a car

and how do they go buy their corn syrup, enriched flour, and partially hydrogenated oiled "food Products"
probably in a car...
wrapped in the Pure Comfort of Genuine Hyde of The Nauga

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_preventable_causes_of_death

Check out the graph of causes of preventable death in the USA.

Then, if you are a non smoker who wants to be healthier, read a bit about Michael Pollan's work
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritionism

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/product-reviews/1594201455

anyone wanna bet that the leading cause of death of bikeforums members is physical inactivity related diseases?

it would not surprise me at all

may be counter intuitive but the average forumite actually rides very very little

That quoted statement isn't true for the USA. It takes into account all of the world.

Over 180,000 people die each year in US hospitals from medical mistakes. A few years ago I saw that number was over 300,000. It seems that hospitals are the leading killers of people in the USA. They kill four times more people per year than car accidents.

Look at this table. It is fascinating.

http://www.ourcivilisation.com/medicine/usamed/deaths.htm

Those of us with TVs have probably seen news stories from around the developing world where they video the stories outside. I'm amazed at the chaos on the streets. I'm surprised that I haven't seen someone hit by a car or motorcycle during any broadcasts.

But most of these deaths are people who are already sick, or they wouldn't be in the hospital in the first place. It seems ridiculous to say these deaths are all iatrogenic (caused by doctor or hospital). For example, most people who get bedsores are elderly or medically very compromised.

However, I do believe that there are deaths from Unnecessary Procedures (although 371,360 deaths might be an exaggeration). The medical/financial system in the USA encourages doctors and hospitals to perform many unneeded procedures. This is the main thrust of Obama's health care reforms.

'Among the new findings: pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycle riders make up almost half of the deaths. '

“Very few people realize that this is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and the leading cause of death for young people,” Dr. Krug said. “Because it happens one by one, here and there and not in mass events, it gets less attention.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/world/16traffic.html?ref=health

I'm one of the ignorant ones who didn't realize cars kill so many people. If this is true it makes the people who want to ban guns look silly.

An odd fact: when legislatures wanted to raise the speed limits on freeways, it was widely accepted that this type of measure would increase deaths on the highways. Yet it stopped none of them. In fact, you can root through the Internet and find many claims (from seemingly credible sources..) that claim the opposite: as speed increase, death rates decline. Just how that could be possible, I could never imagine. Unless there's some physiological thing where humans actually wake up when traveling over 75 miles an hour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_preventable_causes_of_death

Check out the graph of causes of preventable death in the USA.

Then, if you are a non smoker who wants to be healthier, read a bit about Michael Pollan's work
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritionism

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Food-Eaters-Manifesto/product-reviews/1594201455

OK, your wikipedia link corroborates my statement that the comparison between motor vehicle deaths and homicides makes the anti-gun people look silly, 43,000 for motor vehicles and 10,800 for firearms homicides. This is the car-free forum so I compare motor vehicle deaths but I know shrill anti-gun people who are fat and smoke and drive cars.

“Over reliance on automobiles can have adverse impacts on public health, both through lessened physical activity and from increased pollutants.”
– from the bill’s description of the Office of Livability

http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/22/oberstar-releases-full-transportation-bill-new-federal-office-would-study-cyclists-rights/

OK, your wikipedia link corroborates my statement that the comparison between motor vehicle deaths and homicides makes the anti-gun people look silly, 43,000 for motor vehicles and 10,800 for firearms homicides.

It gets better, more than half of those deaths were drug dealer vs drug buyer. If you don't buy or sell illegal street drugs, you are 10x more likely to be killed by a car than a gun (I am ignoring suicide because I firmly believe that anyone that really wants to kill them self will find a way).

OK, your wikipedia link corroborates my statement that the comparison between motor vehicle deaths and homicides makes the anti-gun people look silly, 43,000 for motor vehicles and 10,800 for firearms homicides. This is the car-free forum so I compare motor vehicle deaths but I know shrill anti-gun people who are fat and smoke and drive cars.

I know pro-gun people who are shrill and fat and smoke and drive cars (i.e., Republicans); what's your point? That guns are totally OK because they kill fewer people in the US than cars do?

I don't know the exact statistics, but the majority of homicides in Seattle last year were gang-related; that is, teenagers shot and killed other teenagers just to prove how manly they were. In some cases, they killed innocent bystanders in the process. In every single case, the kids involved used guns. Compared to traffic-related carnage, it's not that many people, but it's carnage nonetheless, and I don't think it's appropriate to dismiss it.

I don't know the exact statistics, but the majority of homicides in Seattle last year were gang-related; that is, teenagers shot and killed other teenagers just to prove how manly they were. In some cases, they killed innocent bystanders in the process. In every single case, the kids involved used guns. Compared to traffic-related carnage, it's not that many people, but it's carnage nonetheless, and I don't think it's appropriate to dismiss it.

You assume without any evidence to support your assumption that without guns those crimes would not occur.

Also, you imply that somehow we could have prevented those kids from getting those guns. Street gangs sell drugs, that is their business model. They get those drugs even though they are illegal. You think we can ban guns and it will work when we banned drugs and it didn't? When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. You think they can ship tons of cocaine up through South America but not guns? Hell, if we ever effectively banned the distribution of guns in the US you can be guaranteed that every kilo of coke would have a handgun in it.

it was interesting how much press the recent train crash on the D.C. metro got when 6 people died. How many people die on I495 and I270 a year? My guess is that it has been more than 6 people in the last 27 years (which is the last fatal accident on the metro IIRC).

I thought the leading cause of death was heart disease? :confused:

But most of these deaths are people who are already sick, or they wouldn't be in the hospital in the first place. It seems ridiculous to say these deaths are all iatrogenic (caused by doctor or hospital). For example, most people who get bedsores are elderly or medically very compromised.

However, I do believe that there are deaths from Unnecessary Procedures (although 371,360 deaths might be an exaggeration). The medical/financial system in the USA encourages doctors and hospitals to perform many unneeded procedures. This is the main thrust of Obama's health care reforms.

Agreed. The tort system also encourages unnecessary procedures.

In the past year, over 800,000 millions have died. Despite millions of dollars of research, death continues to be our nation's number one killer.

That is the biggest problem!
Although, so far there's no known treatment for death's crippling effects, still everyone can acquaint himself with the three early warning signs of death: one, rigor mortis; two, a rotting smell; three, occasional drowsiness.

And remember, once you have figured it out:

It is also important to know what to do you when you die. 1) Don't try to drive a car. 2) Do not operate heavy machinery. 3) Do not talk.

I thought the leading cause of death was heart disease? :confused:

Leading cause of death among the young is traffic accidents. Heart disease is the overall number one killer.

BS. Everyone knows that the leading cause of death is birth! 100% mortality rate.

I fully agree here. Being born gets you killed every time!

All the more reason to acknowledge this very moment, and how awesome it is to be alive. I wish I could do that more, but I get lost in meaningless mind chatter like everyone else. :cheers:

I think the leading cause of death is from worrying about all of the studies....

I fully agree here. Being born gets you killed every time!

What's a tragedy is when someone being born causes someone else to die... cause that means someone was doing something they weren't... completely preventable.


Anyhow, back to the OP, the more I read the more I believe a particular author's description of automobiles... 2-tons of weaponized steel

“Very few people realize that this is one of the leading causes of death in the world, and the leading cause of death for young people,” Dr. Krug said. “Because it happens one by one, here and there and not in mass events, it gets less attention.”


The rest of the third world is trying to motorize as quickly as possible thinking it will bring economic prosperity. However, they don't realize how costly it is to police the roads from speeding motorist. The cost of repairing, installing lights and construction of safe roads is just beyond their means. They are not going to change today, tomorrow or ever.

However, what's going to end this need for hyper-mobility is the end of oil. Plain and simple.

The world will be a much safer place to live when the 2 mph Ox cart returns in 100 years. Get ready!

Deaths and Mortality

(Data are for the U.S.)


Number of deaths: 2,426,264
Death rate: 810.4 deaths per 100,000 population
Life expectancy: 77. 7years
Infant Mortality rate: 6.69 deaths per 1,000 live births
Number of deaths for leading causes of death:


Heart disease: 631,636
Cancer: 559,888
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 137,119
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 124,583
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 121,599
Diabetes: 72,449
Alzheimer's disease: 72,432
Influenza and Pneumonia: 56,326
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 45,344
Septicemia: 34,234

Worldwide
However, other leading causes of death differed depending on countries’ incomes. Here is the list for high-income countries:
1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lung cancer
4. Lower respiratory infections
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
6. Colon and rectum cancers
7. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
8. Type 2 diabetes
9. Breast cancer (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,197190,00.html#)
10. Stomach cancer
Here is the list for low- and middle-income countries:
1. Heart disease
2. Stroke
3. Lower respiratory infections
4. HIV/AIDS
5. Fetus/newborn (perinatal) conditions
6. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
7. Diarrhea
8. Tuberculosis
9. Malaria
10. Road traffic accidents