Road Safety

Annual road deaths per 100000 population:

England and Wales: 6.2
Scotland: 7.4
Ireland: 12.8
USA: 14.7

And yet the UK speed limits tend to be higher, and roads narrower. Perhaps it's because the driving test is harder so it makes people better drivers, perhaps it's because you can't drive quite to young, perhaps it's because the distances are smaller, or perhaps it's because some of us use public transport.

Selected others:
Iceland: 5.5
Canada: 13.7
Russia: 19.9

From http://www.purchasing-consultants.co.uk/drivingabroad.htm

Fascinating, something I wonder all the time as the usual experience of the day is drivers riding my rear.  But no one has ever rear ended me in the UK, unlike the US. 

Drivers have taken off a side mirror, however so I still cringe as they approach head on at fast speeds!

I am sure the death rate has to do with a lot of reasons.  One I was thinking of is the fact that it seems as though almost everyone in America is driving an SUV or a truck.  Not everyone, but a lot more than other countries, or so it seems.  I used to drive a Honda Civic and an Expedition ran into the back of me (drunk driver) and ended up taking the back part of my car off.  Thank God I did not have anyone in the back seat!  But the death rate could have something do with huge cars getting into car accidents with smaller ones or vice versa.  Just more of an impact maybe.  Anyway, just thought I might throw another reason out to discussion. 

Those crazy Russians!!  My Husband says their high rate comes from the built-in vodka holders that are manufactured with their cars.

In the US/UK comparison, I think all those reasons are valid.   Also, US families tend to have 2-3 cars with everyone driving at the same time.  (which is part of the lack of public transportation)

Young drivers are DEFINITELY a problem, I was completely reckless, causing 2 serious accidents before age 20 and 7-8 fender-benders before 23, and I haven't ANY accidents since. (no comments from the peanut gallery please).

I wonder how much of the UK rate is those crazy motorcyclists that drive between the traffic lanes during rush hour.  I am scared to change lanes, thinking I won't see them!