"July 4 is deadliest crash day," by Michael Woods, Toledo Blade science editor and health columnist

The following appeared on the second page of the health section in the Tuesday, June 28 Union Tribune:

For every highway death, there are about 53 disabling injuries.

...

More than 40,000 people die each year on the roads and 2.1 million suffer disabling injuries. Can you imagine society accepting any other technology that kills and maims on such a horrendous scale?

...

Automobiles are the most dangerous way to travel. Death rates are about 0.80 per 100 million passenger-miles compared to 0.02 for airlines. Yet people seldom worry because they are right there in the driver's seat every day, supposedly in control. Everyone, of course, is the world's safest driver.

That sort of illusion also tricks people into overlooking the seriousness of cigarette smoking, obesity and other major health and safety hazards even as they are distracted about risks that actually are remote.

But no other everyday activity carries as great a risk of dying – 1 in 79, according to the safety council – as climbing behind that wheel.

The author, Michael Woods, is the science editor for the Toledo Blade of Toledo, Ohio.

Here's the full text:

Study: July 4 is deadliest crash day

By Michael Woods

SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE

June 28, 2005

When safety officials raise red flags before every Independence Day weekend, motorists often wonder exactly how much more dangerous is travel during the Fourth of July holiday.

Maybe highway death tolls that weekend just seem high because it's a three-day weekend rather than two.

But a whole range of scientific studies confirms that Independence Day weekend is the most dangerous three days within a year – a health and safety threat that actually gets less attention than it deserves.

In February, for instance, researchers with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported on a major study of motor vehicle crash deaths in the U.S. from 1986 to 2002.

A total of 727,483 people died in crashes during that period. For every highway death, there are about 53 disabling injuries. So 38.5 million people suffered disabling injuries in that period.

The study, published in the trade journal Injury Prevention, found that July 4 was, on average, the deadliest day during the 17-year period, with an average of 161 crash deaths. July 3 was the second-deadliest, averaging 149 deaths. July 2 was in the Top 10, averaging 138 deaths.

Those Top 10 days were, in order: July 4, July 3, Dec. 23, Aug. 3, Jan. 1, Aug. 6, Aug. 4, Aug. 12, July 2 and Sept. 2.

On an average day during the study years, 117 people are killed in traffic accidents.

National Safety Council studies show that the average number of deaths during the Independence Day weekend is 7.1 percent higher than other holiday periods of the same length.

The Independence Day weekend toll may result partly from more cars being on the road, according to the insurance institute's study. It also is due, in part, to the number of people driving after drinking as people travel to and from picnics, fireworks displays and other activities, researchers said.

July 4 also had a higher proportion of deaths involving elevated blood alcohol levels than any other day.

The Independence Day weekend, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

More than 40,000 people die each year on the roads and 2.1 million suffer disabling injuries. Can you imagine society accepting any other technology that kills and maims on such a horrendous scale?

It happens because human beings create what scientists term "illusory zones of immunity" around familiar everyday activities that supposedly are under their control.

Automobiles are the most dangerous way to travel. Death rates are about 0.80 per 100 million passenger-miles compared to 0.02 for airlines. Yet people seldom worry because they are right there in the driver's seat every day, supposedly in control. Everyone, of course, is the world's safest driver.

That sort of illusion also tricks people into overlooking the seriousness of cigarette smoking, obesity and other major health and safety hazards even as they are distracted about risks that actually are remote.

But no other everyday activity carries as great a risk of dying – 1 in 79, according to the safety council – as climbing behind that wheel.

Added by colin #442 on 2005-07-02. Last modified 2005-07-02 23:43. F0 License: Attribution
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