Stay Off the Roads in Mississippi

[Zinjanthropos]

There was a fatal accident near us the other day. Motorcyclist killed. Also involved two SUV ‘s, drivers ok.

Ontario motor vehicle deaths per 100,000 population in 2022 was 4.0 and our worst total was from Saskatchewan at 12.1. Just over 1900 motor vehicle fatalities across Canada that year. How did Americans compare?

From Google…

There were 40,901 deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2023. This corresponds to 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.26 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The fatality rate per 100,000 people ranged from 4.9 in Massachusetts to 24.9 in Mississippi.

Trying to figure out why such discrepancies must be a daunting task. From my experience it’s the way drivers have evolved locally. Here they get right on your ass no matter how fast you go and then get pissed off, honking horns and flashing headlights, just to let you know how impatient they are to pass. I figured 2 SUV’s and 1 motorcycle probably part of that scenario.

How do you fix it? Safer cars, driver’s education? Why are cars capable of speeds much higher than posted high maximums? Perhaps ev with their array of sensors will reduce the numbers.

[Syne]

No real discrepancy.

In 2023, Canada's road fatality rate was 1.26 deaths per 100 million miles traveled - Google AI

Looks like Americans just drive more miles.

I didn't expect Canadian drivers to be so rude. Goes against the stereotype of Canadian friendliness.

[confused2]

In the UK ..
5 road fatalities per billion vehicle miles travelled in Great Britain, according to GOV.UK.
OR
0.5 per 100,000 million miles
Compared to your 1.26 per 100,000 million miles
We don't have much snow or mooses. (You do have mooses don't you?)

[Zinjanthropos]

In the UK ..
5 road fatalities per billion vehicle miles travelled in Great Britain, according to GOV.UK.
OR
0.5 per 100,000 million miles
Compared to your 1.26 per 100,000 million miles
We don't have much snow or mooses. (You do have mooses don't you?)

Newfoundland moose seem to get hit a lot. I was visiting there a few years ago and saw numerous shrines along the Trans Canada Highway where someone, particularly motorcyclists, had died as a result of impacting a moose. Funny thing is that moose aren’t even indigenous to the province. I think a handful of moose were brought there just over a century ago and last I heard there were 104,000 estimated to be living there now.

Google :

In Newfoundland, there is an average of 539 moose-vehicle collisions per year, according to government data from CBC. These collisions account for roughly 6% of all vehicle accidents in the province. While the number of collisions has decreased in recent years, the problem remains significant, with an average of one fatality per year.

[stryder]

Road fatality figures can be a bit misleading if you don't take into consideration where people are driving from and too into the equation.

For instance Mississippi has a number of interstates. The East<>West ones tend to be used a lot by people travelling across the country, and Mississippi would already be hours into their trip (possibly where they should stop and rest). Long distance driving is also a toll on any vehicle used. Car tyres warm up when in use for prelonged periods which can lead to the rubber wearing further as well as increase the risks of a blowout or shredding of a tyre.

Travelling East<>West also crosses multiple timezones, as well as night/Morning approaches from the East. (Thats two instances of twilight, where the lighting changes)

Coupled with ever changing weather conditions and different times of the year (and day/night cycle with fog) it can further add to the considerations.

I guess what I'm pointing out is that the accidents that happen probably aren't people local to the area, but people passing through.