USA Today had some more information

>>>About 500 people on average die on U.S. highways each Memorial Day holiday.

>>>Last year, overall traffic deaths were at their highest since 1990: 42,850 people died in 2002.

These numbers are incredible. I belive in years to come, they will climb higher as the number of cars on the highways reaches critical mass. If you want to know why I believe these numbers will go higher, read the following below from the same article.

• More than 70% own up to speeding. Driving 10 mph over the limit seems fine to one in five respondents.

• Almost one-third say they run red or yellow lights.

• cell phones are used while driving by 37%. Almost 60% eat in their cars. And 14% say they think reading behind the wheel is OK.

• However, drivers ages 26-44 confess to the most driving sins. They take more risks in almost every category — from failing to wear a seat belt (34%), to yakking on cellular telephones (55%).
senior citizens report fewer bad habits than the other groups.