By eliminating incidents that are clearly linked to factors like vehicle condition, speed, drug or alcohol impairment and weather, Elzohairy [senior safety research adviser for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation] estimated that 17.8 per cent of all fatal crashes and 25.5 per cent of crashes causing injury on Ontario roads in 2004 were fatigue-related. (From CTV)
One of things that I dislike about the car culture is that you don't know what kind of condition the other drivers on the road are in. Many tend to feel that there's no option but to drive everywhere, regardless of their mental state. They have a vehicle, and no other way of getting around.
Dan mentioned that there is some rationality to liquid restrictions when flying, but few think about the comparative risks of driving. Flying in North America is extremely safe compared to other methods of travel - I've heard it claimed that you're more likely to get killed in a car crash on the way to the airport than you are in flight, and I don't feel inclined to doubt it. Yet, people tend to feel that driving a car is a right, even while many remain terrified of flying.
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