Why we ignore thousands of daily car crashes

Post by GLGirty » Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 8:43 PM UTC

jiveturkey wrote: post #174

CodeAndCuffs wrote: post #155

I was a cop for several years. I worked hundreds of crashes, and a few fatalities. If cars had a max speed limit of 85 mph, and required the seatbelt to be engaged to work, we'd cut our fatality rate in half. Most nations' DUI laws consider a 0.05 BAC as illegal. In most US states 0.08 is presumed under the influence, 0.06 - 0.079 is considered no presumption either way, and under .06 is considered not under the infl…

Who cares if you kill yourself through your own negligence? There shouldn't be a fine at all for seatbelts. DUI, OTOH, should be treated even more harshly than it is.

Post by rootusrootus » Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 8:43 PM UTC

Apreche wrote: post #154

mywittyname wrote: post #105

"We" don't ignore them. Every major government has a body dedicated entirely to automobile safety. In the USA, this is NHSTA - National Highway Safety & Transportation Administration. They maintain an information system of traffic fatality statistics in the USA, called FARS (fatality analysis reporting system). This system is used to determine new safety devices and standards for vehicles and to test their effectiven…

You are correct that they are powerful, but they wield that power rarely. Imagine if Superman was real. There he is standing on a street corner. Vastly powerful. Invincible to everything except kryptonite. Cape flowing majestically. Someone robs a bank right there across the street. He sees it. He hears it. And he stands there and watches, doing nothing. That's the NHSTA.

Post by Willish42 » Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 8:44 PM UTC

the_jeremy wrote: post #134

causi wrote: post #4

Human response is never in actual proportion to reality. For example, veterans have a suicide rate lower than farmers, fisherman, construction workers, maintenance workers, and engineers.

I don't think you are correct on engineers. General suicide rate in the US in 2019: 16.8/100k[0]. Suicide rate of veterans in the US in 2019: 31.6/100k[0]. Suicide rate of engineers in the US in 2016: 23.2/100k [1]. [0]: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-sheets/2021/2021-N... [1]: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/84275

Post by WalterBright » Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 8:44 PM UTC

wizofaus wrote: post #206

jiveturkey wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who cares if you kill yourself through your own negligence? There shouldn't be a fine at all for seatbelts. DUI, OTOH, should be treated even more harshly than it is.

Aside from the fact your own death is always going to impose a cost on society, I'd assume having a seatbelt on as a driver significantly increases your ability to maintain at least some control of a vehicle in a collision, reducing your chance of injuring others (both in and outside said vehicle).

Post by campbel » Thu, Jul 21, 2022, 8:45 PM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #221

CodeAndCuffs wrote: post #155

I was a cop for several years. I worked hundreds of crashes, and a few fatalities. If cars had a max speed limit of 85 mph, and required the seatbelt to be engaged to work, we'd cut our fatality rate in half. Most nations' DUI laws consider a 0.05 BAC as illegal. In most US states 0.08 is presumed under the influence, 0.06 - 0.079 is considered no presumption either way, and under .06 is considered not under the infl…

Not wearing a seatbelt is an individual choice, and should not be a crime. P.S. Growing up, my dad had the dealer install seatbelts in the family wagon before he picked it up. We never moved an inch unless everyone was buckled up. Nobody else, and I mean nobody else, had seatbelts in their car at the time. P.P.S. Seatbelts also saved my life.