Recent searches
Search options
Y'know how I like nuance and am skeptical of simple narratives?
Well, I have a bugbear regarding the discussion on pedestrian fatalities in the US.
To start this thread, I'd like to think I have an unbiased perspective here. I don't drive a very large vehicle, I loathe the arms race in vehicle size, and I welcome all efforts to reduce car-dependence and make our streets safer for all.
But... every discussion I listen to on this topic is real handwavey on the impacts of distracted driving.
@TechConnectify Getting data on this topic is hard, even for a single locale (like say an EU country). Sometimes you'll get tables for the types of vehicles (or lack thereof) involved, sometimes you may even get charts on compounding factors (DUI, tiredness, distracted driving, etc).
But, if one assumes that European drivers are just as likely to be distracted as North American ones, the size of vehicles does pop out… as a correlation. At least, that's what I can tell at a cursory glance.
@remi right, but I think enforcement and safety culture is more prevalent in the EU.
I would bet US drivers are at least twice as likely to use their phone while driving. I see it all the time despite it being explicitly illegal where I live.