From: BillK (bill@wkidston.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Sat Feb 08 2003 - 05:44:09 MST
Fri Feb 07, 2003 05:35 pm Lee Daniel Crocker wrote:
> Alfio makes a good point: the traffic fatality rate in Italy is
> about 12 per 100,000; in the US it's about 15. So "safety" can't
> be the primary explanation for the absence of micros from the US
> market. Perceived safety, perhaps.
I think we should show much caution in comparing road safety statistics
between countries. Some countries are better at recording traffic deaths
and accidents. Some countries have more vehicles per 100,000 population
than others. Some countries have higher driving mileages than others.
Some have more freeways (generally regarded as safer) than country
roads. Some have more two-wheeled vehicles than others. Some have more
injury accidents, but fewer deaths. Some have better emergency medical
facilities than others.
Rumor has it that in USA 'real men' don't wear seatbelts.
In Italy every driver has to be the one in front. And so on.
I found http://www.bast.de/htdocs/fachthemen/irtad/
OECD - International Road Traffic and Accident Database, which has lots
of data, only up to year 2000 though.
Their figures for 'killed per 100000 population' indicate that UK,
Holland, Norway and Sweden are well-behaved, boring drivers with around
6 to 7 deaths. Italy is nearly twice this figure at 11. France and Spain
are worse at around 14. Greece and Portugal seem to lead at 20 to 21.
The USA comes in at around 15 deaths per 100,000 population.
This OECD summary is dated 20/12/2002 and highlights some new trends in
the accident statistics
http://www.oecd.org/EN/document/0,,EN-document-0-nodirectorate-no-12-378
63-0,00.html
(copy and paste this two-line url together)
(snipped)
Although speeding and alcohol remain among the primary causes of
fatalities, driving under the influence of drugs appears to be an
increasingly widespread road safety problem. Recent research in Holland
highlighted the increased risks involved in driving under the combined
influence of drugs and alcohol - a problem related to prescription as
well as illegal drugs.
Some countries have seen recent increases in traffic deaths among older
motorcyclists. The UK, U.S. and France, for example, have experienced a
rapid rise in the proportion of fatalities involving riders between the
ages of 25 and 64. In the U.S., the most affected group has been males
over 40 years old riding large, powerful motorcycles.
Countries with relatively good road safety records, such as the U.K. and
the Netherlands tend to have tough enforcement and are more likely to
stop speeders and alcohol offenders. Seat belt use, meanwhile, continues
to increase, with more than 90% of vehicle occupants in countries such
as Germany, Australia and New Zealand wearing them. However, a number of
countries - including the United States, Austria and Hungary -- still
report average usage rates of 75%, or below. About half of road
fatalities could be avoided if everyone wore seat belts.
---------------------------------------
I was unable to find any reference to micro cars being more dangerous
than large cars. But it might be that other factors outweigh the risk of
being in a small car.
But it's tough if you are over 40, drink and take drugs and drive a
large, powerful motorcycle!
BillK
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