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posted by martyb on Saturday July 23 2016, @10:02PM   Printer-friendly
from the 'hit-the-road'-but-don't-take-it-literally dept.

ScienceNews reports on a report from the CDC (informative graph):

U.S. drivers love to hit the road. The problem is doing so safely.

In 2013, 32,894 people in the United States died in motor vehicle crashes. Although down since 2000, the overall death rate - 10.3 per 100,000 people - tops 19 other high-income countries, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported July 8. Belgium is a distant second with 6.5 deaths per 100,000. Researchers reviewed World Health Organization and other data on vehicle crash deaths, seat belt use and alcohol-impaired driving in 2000 and 2013.

Canada had the highest percentage of fatal crashes caused by drunk drivers: 33.6 percent. New Zealand and the United States tied for second at 31 percent. But Canada and 16 other countries outperformed the United States on seat belt use - even though, in 2013, 87 percent of people in the United States reported wearing safety belts while riding in the front seat.

Spain saw the biggest drop - 75 percent - in its crash death rate. That country improved nearly all aspects of road safety, including decreasing alcohol-impaired driving and increasing seat belt use, the researchers say.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 24 2016, @09:25PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 24 2016, @09:25PM (#379518)

    yet it's never illegal to not use them

    In all of the states I have been in it is illegal to NOT use them. Enforced? Not at all. Basically one of those laws that is only enforced when the cop wants an excuse to pull you. A few have started passing 'dont hang in the left lane' laws.

    What I noticed is in major cities everyone drives like 'they know how' and drive like it is a race. Then in rural areas they want *NO* *ONE* in front of them and will ride your ass.

    I had the 'pleasure' of driving I24 between nashville and padukah. Everyone in cars were in the left lane. All the trucks in the right. *that* was 'fun'.