Highway Deaths Reach Lowest Levels since the 1950s

[Stuart G]

Source: MSNBC, NBC News

updated 56 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - U.S. highway deaths have fallen to their lowest levels since the 1950s.

The Transportation Department said Thursday that its projections show traffic deaths declined nearly 9 percent in 2009 to fewer than 34,000. That's the lowest level since 1954.

"This is exciting news, but there are still far too many people dying in traffic accidents," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35814610/ns/us_news-life/

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An amazing good news story, probably due to high price of gas and improved safety in cars. (airbags throughout car, improved traction, etc) . Also probably due to high unemployment, so fewer people are on the roads going to work.

[Donnachaidh]

1. as gas rises to 3 bucks a gallon -- no one can afford to drive.

Being spun as a win as the economy goes down the shitter -- Hello Orwell! DoubleplusGood!

[4lbs]

4. That could have also caused many people to trade in their gargantuan SUVs for smaller, more

economical coupes and sedans.

Less likelihood of people dying in crashes between two 2500 lb sedans than two 4000 lb SUVs.

[Donnachaidh]

5. kind of hard to trade in cars when you're unemployed

:shrug:

But I suppose the elites can do that.

[Lucky Luciano]

8. Errr...owning a car is FAAAARR from being elite! LOL. nt

[sufrommich]

2. I'm amazed the second lowest level is 1954, holy crap those

cars were rolling sharp objects practically designed to mess you up.

[rfranklin]

9. A lot less cars on the road and slower speeds...

In 1960, there were 74 million vehicles on the road, now there are 245 million vehicles on the road.

[Zoeisright]

3. Thanks to Democrats.

Repukes are against ANYTHING that forces corporations to make their products safer. And car manufacturers have been forced to make their products safer by Congress.

In the 1950s, car manufacturers were against putting seatbelts in cars because they thought it would imply that cars were unsafe.

Oh, and seatbelt laws too. Brought to you by Democrats.

[KillCapitalism]

6. It's easy to see why this is.

Improved safety standards and extreme unemployment are probably the two best reasons why.

It could swing the other way tho with all the Toyotas zooming down the highway all on their own.

[hunter]

7. In this economy you can buy booze or you can buy gas. But not both.

Everybody wins.