"but their traffic deaths are about 1 percent of that in the US."That's a very interesting statistic. Could it have to do with the huge amount of open space that's only traversed by road trains? Most of the US is criss-crossed by the interstate system which is a mixture of amateurs and professionals (and incompetent, uninsured illegals.) It's a accident waiting for a place to happen...or a place....or....well, you get the picture. From what I've seen/heard of/about Aus, they don't have that issue except for the few metro areas: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and a coupla others.
I talked with a guy yesterday who'd promoted an LSR event at Lake Gairdner ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Gairdner ) which is somewhat of an understatement to say that it's "remote." Three hundred miles from Adelaide with the last half of it dirt road. He waxed eloquent (bitched for a long time) about the conditions there, not the least of which was the fly infestation...most people wear wide-brimmed hats with corks on strings hanging from the brim, the motion of which seems to keep the flies...if not way, then at least distracted.
Anyway, there's a hell of a lotta outback there with very little traffic. I kinda got a feeling that it might have something to do with the difference in traffic deaths. If you were to compare the miles of road per car in the two countries, I wouldn't be surprised to see the same sort of ratio: about 6:1...or something close. And if one looked at the number of intersections per car...well, that number might be an order of magnitude higher. Look at the percentage of accidents that happen at intersections and it might lead to some interesting conclusions. I dunno. I'm just guessing here. But if I could get a $20M grant to study that, I'd be happy to crunch some numbers and write up a conclusion. :)
r On 11/11/2010 12:37 AM, Dann Keller wrote:
On one level I can agree with you, Rick. But some of it is a matter of scale, also. The Aussie population is about 6 1/2 percent of that of the US but their traffic deaths are about 1 percent of that in the US. Nonetheless, I think they're doing something right; they take substance abuse related driving and deaths seriously. Their legislatures are not captives of the liquor industry, nor do they suffer from "upper analitis" that affects so many in the US.Dan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: dragan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [elky] Re: Fwd: DUI Ad VERY graphic!! Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:05:42 -0800Seems strange that they would make a big deal about 300 or so deaths while the motor vehicle fatalities in the US is between 40,000 and 50,000 per year and not much is said about it. About half are substance related. I tried to download this but gave up about half way through after an hour and a half of tying my computer up.Rick Draganowski ----- Original Message ----- *From:* Dann Keller <mailto:kwhale22@xxxxxxxxxxx> *To:* Ray Buck et al <mailto:elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 10, 2010 10:41 AM *Subject:* [elky] Re: Fwd: DUI Ad VERY graphic!! Excellent. And the short ads that went along with the longer one were great. Something like that (i.e., 30 to 45 seconds long) should be showing as public service announcements on every TV station thru the end of the year. In U.S. English with American cars would help as well. Dan ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: STILLFRANKSFAULT@xxxxxxx <mailto:STILLFRANKSFAULT@xxxxxxx> Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:04:10 -0500 Subject: [elky] Fwd: DUI Ad VERY graphic!! To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Guys I don't pass stuff to the elky list but this is compelling. Smoky Mt. Frank ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subj: DUI Ad VERY graphic!! Made in Oz! One of the most telling ads I have seen on the subject. With the holidays soon upon us remember that if you're going to be the driver make it a ROOT BEER and nothing stronger. I've had to delete too many contacts from my address book this year due to natural causes and I don't want to be deleting anymore! *Paul* I know this is graphic, but if it will save one life it’s worth passing on. This was shown on Australian TV. They should show it in the US of A, too. It REALLY makes one think………….the holidays are coming. *DUI Ad* *This is perhaps one of the most intense commercials that I've ever seen and it's well made. ****I hope that by passing this along to others, that it will make a difference and if just one life is saved, it will all be worth the effort to simply hit "send" and maybe save a life today or tomorrow or in the future.* *Please click on DUI* *DUI <http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Z2mf8DtWWd8>*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.869 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3246 - Release Date: 11/08/10 23:34:00
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