I know that roughly 43,000 Americans are killed each year in traffic crashes, and that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children, teens, and young adults in the U.S. It is what motivates me, and my associates, to learn more about what can be done to reduce this public health crisis. The average motorist in this country does not appreciate the full implications of these tragedies.

Over the past several decades the risks associated with motor vehicle travel have been substantially lowered. But recently, progress has slowed, despite the fact that much research suggests that we could probably cut this toll in half or better if only we would implement a few proven lifesaving countermeasures that we already know about. So, why don’t we?

That is the central question that emerged from a workshop the AAA Foundation convened of nationally recognized traffic safety experts to consider a long-term traffic safety research agenda.

The group consensus was that we as individuals and our society on the whole are simply way too willing to accept the toll from these traffic crashes, apparently as an inevitable consequence of the mobility we enjoy.

At the same time, contrast this apparent “complacency” with what has happened since 9-11. Americans have accepted the expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars to combat terrorism, and have accepted innumerable inconveniences and intrusions into their privacy that previously would have been considered unacceptable. When we get “outraged” about something, our society can marshal the requisite resolve and resources to make a difference!

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