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Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and the cause is?

Dittohead not!

Dittohead not!

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[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?

So, given all this, why did driving fatalities go sharply up in the first six months of 2015? They soared 14 percent over the same period last year, reports the National Safety Council, and that’s a lot—almost 19,000 deaths. Injuries increased by a third, too. And just last year they were crowing about the death toll being down.
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So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?

The 1.26 trillion miles we covered in the first five months of the year surpassed the previous record of 1.23 trillion (set in 2007).
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Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.


The other reason?
Another reason is 70 mph speed limits, which my wife noted on a recent Connecticut-to-Orlando drive have taken over our Southern right-to-spurn-55 states. It’s catching on—10 states recently began working on higher speed limits.
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Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
 
Its kinda a big question. I'm not convinced by the EI ratio because California's population has not spiked in recent years. I think that the article is right, cheap gas is a good thing; on average it helps unemployment and improves labor mobility. But there is no safety this side of the grave. The more you go out, the higher your risk of dying.
 
Dittohead not! said:
[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?



So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?




Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.


The other reason?


Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
Click to expand...

Should maybe see if the death rates mirror BMW sales. Those things don't have turn signals. Or at least the assholes who drive them don't use them. :lol:
 
One thing I've noticed a heck of a lot more lately are distracted drivers swerving or not reacting because texting is apparently more important than the lives of people like Maryland's Batman.
 
Dittohead not! said:
[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?



So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?




Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.


The other reason?


Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
Click to expand...

i would guess the constant increase in smartphones and people not paying attention.

i could count the number of times in the last week i nearly died from a woman texting on her phone not paying attention,or trying to do a selfie while driving.

women are listed as the lesser of accidents,but many of those studies are old,and even worse i watch men texting while driving eeryday too,cutting people off and merging while they are playing on their cellphone.
 
The cause, IMHO, is more distracting nonsense installed in modern cars combined with even more distracting nonsense carried by their drivers. The small amount of extra miles driven, allowed by lower fuel cost, is not important - what is important is paying full time attention while you are driving.
 
tech30528 said:
Should maybe see if the death rates mirror BMW sales. Those things don't have turn signals. Or at least the assholes who drive them don't use them. :lol:
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Oh, not just Beemer drivers!
There needs to be a recall- a part of the turn signal system has failed. I think it's the part that sits behind the steering wheel.
 
I think a big % would be the general state of disrepair as well as the poorly managed repair strategies on our roads.

Around here, we have a LOT of construction (needed, but mismanaged) that has traffic funnel to 1 lane in the span of 400-500 feet with no "warning".
We also have cops sitting there flagging down speeders but ignoring tailgaters in a construction cattle chute with no shoulder. ETC.
 
I'm disappointed this hasn't been blamed on Obama yet.
 
tech30528 said:
Should maybe see if the death rates mirror BMW sales. Those things don't have turn signals. Or at least the assholes who drive them don't use them. :lol:
Click to expand...

When i lived in Phoenix driving on the highway... if I was cut off by a douche driver, it'd almost always be a beamer driver. They buy a bmw and automatically think they are on the autobahn.
 
Dittohead not! said:
[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?



So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?




Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.


The other reason?


Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
Click to expand...

Texting?
 
Dittohead not! said:
[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?

So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?

Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.

The other reason?

Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
Click to expand...

It is a well written article.

It concludes that gasoline is cheaper (only Yanks call it gas, mate) so people are now driving more.

Speed limits are going higher and drivers are ignoring even those and going faster still.

I see a lot more people on their phones than texting. Sure they text at stop lights then sit there preoccupied when it turns green.

But texting has nothing to do with traffic accidents.

Talking on the phone does though. Then they are not paying attention and can easily run into you.

Basically speaking, the roadways are now LESS safe nor more.
 
bg85 said:
I'm disappointed this hasn't been blamed on Obama yet.
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Yes !!! Where are those far right fringe fanatics that blame everything under the sun on BHO ???

Come out you rats !!! We know you are hiding and sniveling over this too, somewhere !!!

:)
 
ttwtt78640 said:
The cause, IMHO, is more distracting nonsense installed in modern cars combined with even more distracting nonsense carried by their drivers. The small amount of extra miles driven, allowed by lower fuel cost, is not important - what is important is paying full time attention while you are driving.
Click to expand...

I am compelled by logic to agree with this.
 
beerftw said:
i would guess the constant increase in smartphones and people not paying attention.

i could count the number of times in the last week i nearly died from a woman texting on her phone not paying attention,or trying to do a selfie while driving.

women are listed as the lesser of accidents,but many of those studies are old,and even worse i watch men texting while driving eeryday too,cutting people off and merging while they are playing on their cellphone.
Click to expand...

Yesterday at 3:30 pm while on my way to a company function on the other side of town, I was almost run into by two different females -- one with high school stickers all over her car and the other with a baby seat in hers.

Traffic at the time was moderate not congested, but these babes seemed to be in a hurry and were ignoring common courtesy and safety.

The teen was on her cell phone too. Her biggest high school car sticker was CLASS OF 2K15 so I am guessing she just graduated.

The momma was just in a hurry -- maybe to go get her kid out of daycare.

Occasionally a Mexican day worker in his jalopy pickup truck loaded with gardening gear will seem to be driving recklessly on the freeways to get to a job site. Around town it seems to be otherwise however.

It does seem to be correct that the roadways are more dangerous -- but in this case simply because there are idiots everywhere driving.
 
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Riveroaks said:
Yesterday at 3:30 pm while on my way to a company function on the other side of town, I was almost run into by two different females -- one with high school stickers all over her car and the other with a baby seat in hers.

Traffic at the time was moderate not congested, but these babes seemed to be in a hurry and were ignoring common courtesy and safety.

The teen was on her cell phone too. Her biggest high school car sticker was CLASS OF 2K15 so I am guessing she just graduated.

The momma was just in a hurry -- maybe to go get her kid out of daycare.

Occasionally a Mexican day worker in his jalopy pickup truck loaded with gardening gear will seem to be driving recklessly on the freeways to get to a job site. Around town it seems to be otherwise however.

It does seem to be correct that the roadways are more dangerous -- but in this case simply because there are idiots everywhere driving.
Click to expand...

Exactly. It's what I called the IE count in the OP.
 
Dittohead not! said:
[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?



So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?




Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.


The other reason?


Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing it's your "EI" ratio, in conjunction with texting/emailing/forum surfing. Just about every time someone is all over the road, when I pass, or am passed by them, their head is down and they are working an electronic device.
 
Dittohead not! said:
[h=1]Highway Deaths Up in 2015, and Lots of "Cheap Gas" Driving Is the Cause[/h]
Cheap gas is the cause?



So, how many more miles are being driven due to "cheap" gas?




Deaths are up 14% due to driving mileage going up 2.4% (1.23 up to 1.26)?

That doesn't pencil out.


The other reason?


Could be, but I doubt it. California drivers pay no attention to speed limits anyway. Maybe they do in the rest of the country.

My hypothesis is that highway deaths are up due to the EI ratio.

That is, the ratio of Egregious Imbeciles to normal drivers. It's way up around here. What's it like where you are?

Aside: Is someone trying to claim that low (relative) gas prices are a bad thing?
Click to expand...

I blame cell phones.
 
Dittohead not! said:
If cell phones cause accidents, then guns kill people.
Click to expand...

Oh, we're going to play stupid semantics games and idiotic analogies because you haven't the wit to engage in civilized discussion I see.

Cell Phones, themselves, do not cause accidents. They are inanimate objects, people driving distracted cause accidents. Cell Phones, are a distraction, from idiots talking with one hand to their ear to the fools surfing the web, responding to text messages or watching porn; cell phones are a distraction that has increased roadway dangers.

Distracted Driving Research Studies If you wish to educate yourself on this matter.

Now, as I ASSUMED most folks would realize this was my implication with the my opening comment on this thread, it's a shame you've forced me to go this in-depth. However, you chose to take the road of least intelligence and I'm more then happy to guide you from the ignorance you've shown and imposed upon me and this thread.

Any more, discussion related comments or just more witless sparring from you? Which is it?
 
Renae said:
Oh, we're going to play stupid semantics games and idiotic analogies because you haven't the wit to engage in civilized discussion I see.

Cell Phones, themselves, do not cause accidents. They are inanimate objects, people driving distracted cause accidents. Cell Phones, are a distraction, from idiots talking with one hand to their ear to the fools surfing the web, responding to text messages or watching porn; cell phones are a distraction that has increased roadway dangers.

Distracted Driving Research Studies If you wish to educate yourself on this matter.

Now, as I ASSUMED most folks would realize this was my implication with the my opening comment on this thread, it's a shame you've forced me to go this in-depth. However, you chose to take the road of least intelligence and I'm more then happy to guide you from the ignorance you've shown and imposed upon me and this thread.

Any more, discussion related comments or just more witless sparring from you? Which is it?
Click to expand...

WTF!??!

I make a joke, and a pretty good analogy, and you come back angry. Why is that? Road rage?

Guns don't kill people, stupid people misuse guns.
Cell phones don't kill people, stupid people misuse cell phones.

Now, go have a nice glass of wine and relax a bit.
 
Dittohead not! said:
WTF!??!

I make a joke, and a pretty good analogy, and you come back angry. Why is that? Road rage?

Guns don't kill people, stupid people misuse guns.
Cell phones don't kill people, stupid people misuse cell phones.

Now, go have a nice glass of wine and relax a bit.
Click to expand...

There was no anger. I merely sought clarification. Thank you for clarifying.
 
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