Jinn of Current Events

Reportedly, the number of U.S. traffic deaths rose nearly 1 percent in 2003 and reached 43,220. Now, I don't know how valid these statistics are but I know a few other things: such high death rates would never be tolerated if the mode of transportation involved were something else (airplane, train, or bus); and it doesn't account for the probably even more numerous injuries, nor does it even evaluate economic impacts. That's a lot more people dying daily in car accidents than US soldiers who face terrorists in Iraq.

Despite the increase in the annual death count, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled remained constant at 1.5 deaths: more people die because more people use vehicles over longer distances each year. Forty percent of all fatalities were considered alcohol-related.