People Are Dying On American Streets In Record Numbers And We Don't Have A Good Solution

Cars are safer than they have ever been, with an ever-increasing number of driver assistance systems, advanced impact safety, and more airbags than you can count. Unfortunately, cars are getting better at protecting their occupants, but the roads and the drivers are getting worse at an unsustainable rate. 2021 was the deadliest year since 2005 with 42,939 people killed on American roads, and 2022 saw another 42,795 perish.

Deadly road design, vehicle size and weight, and risky driving behaviors are likely the root cause, though some experts say a reduction in traffic enforcement is to blame. 2020 was a sea change for a number of reasons. Drivers picked up bad habits during COVID shutdowns, and police became 60 percent less likely to stop a vehicle for violating traffic laws (due to nationwide protests over police brutality, which raises its own questions).

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To really put a dent in traffic fatalities, we need to cut our problems off at the roots. Distracted driving is maybe the biggest contributor to traffic fatalities (particularly when pedestrians are killed), which cell phone manufacturers could solve tomorrow with an over-the-air update restricting drivers to emergency calls and music apps when driving. Car companies (or lawmakers) could come together to stop drunk driving by installing standard ignition interlocks. States could work diligently to reform driver education and licensing requirements. They could also require regular vehicle safety inspections. Cities could invest in public transit. The NHTSA could set standards for vehicle frontal impact heights, reducing the grille heights of new trucks and SUVs. Roads could be redesigned to slow drivers down and promote better visibility at crosswalks.

There are a dozen ways to make the roads safer. None of them have to include increased police presence or overzealous traffic camera operations. Instead of always immediately looking for a stick to beat people into submission, why not dangle a carrot instead?

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