Apparently a history lesson is needed. Remember when you were a kid in the car? Were there distractions? Yes, usually you or you and your siblings. Were there people driving at high speeds while others crept along? Yes, the speed limit was a minimum of 70 in most places and many states had no limits. Were there people eating, drinking and driving? Yes, if you recall, it was the era of the drive-in theater, drive up fast food, and even Quicker Liquor drive thru stores.
So, what is the primary difference today? Speeds have actually come down. The cars are much safer and actually weigh much less. The traffic laws are tougher and more strictly enforced.
People are so stressed and overwhelmed today that they are completely self-absorbed. It is almost as if everyone else is invisible. The driver is cruising down the road, talking on the cell phone, iPod connected to the stereo or XM satellite playing Howard Stern, while the kids are singing along to their DVD's in the back seat while munching away on their Happy Meals or doing their homework on their laptops or text messaging their best friends. As drivers we no longer have enough brain capacity to recognize and acknowledge the other drivers and the complex driving conditions that now exist.
For instance, there are a lot more people and cars on the road now than ever before. Car pooling and HOV lane use are at all time lows, despite gas prices. In addition to cars there are a multitude of other vehicles we must share the road with, most of which we tend to ignore, such as motorcycles, scooters, and anything that is not a SUV or minivan. There are an enormous number of large trucks on the road which are definitely not paying attention to everyone around them.
My wife will tell you that I am a pessimist, but I see myself as more of a pragmatist. Either way, I don't see any remedy in my lifetime. I have a cousin who is recovering from a brain tumor and has lost his peripheral vision. He is 50 years old and a salesman his entire life and now he can not drive an automobile. I understand how important the PRIVILEGE of driving can be and how our economy has been built on the principle. Still, if we want to stop the carnage, and yes, that is the correct way to describe it - we must make serious changes to the system that would have a big impact on the economy in the short run. It is not going to happen people. So, I suggest you at least buy a safe care because the chances are pretty good that you will, if you have not already, be a statistic. Speaking of which, here they are:
National Highway Traffic Safety - National Center for Statistics and Analysis - 2005 data
Fatal Crashes - 39,189
# Vehicles - Passenger Cars 25,029 Light Trucks 22,838 Heavy Trucks 4,932 Motorcycles 4,655
# of Fatalaties - 43,443