Renting a car in Sweden and driving around while touring appears to be extremely safe.
I’ve been writing in recent weeks about highway safety statistics, built around the fact that last year, the nation recorded the lowest number of road deaths-an estimated 37,313-since 1961, and a rate of deaths per 100 million miles traveled of 1.28, the lowest rate ever recorded in the U. S.
These are significant achievements for all of us, as well as the police who enforce traffic laws, the engineers who design safer cars and roadways, the legislators who pass seat belt use laws, and even the bureaucrats who collect, analyze and disseminate safety statistics.
But how do we compare with other advanced countries with relatively modern roads, cars and well-trained, experienced drivers? It used to be the United States had significantly lower fatality rates than leading Western European countries. Alas, no more.
Indeed, according to the International Transport Forum’s 4 July 2008 provisional report for calendar year 2007, the U. S. ranked 11th in fatality rates at 8.8 per billion kilometers traveled (BKT). In order of relative safety ahead of Americans were Sweden and Switzerland at 5.9 per BKT, Great Britain at 6.3, Finland at 6.4, Norway at 6.5, Germany at 7.4, Netherlands and Denmark at 7.7, Australia at 7.9 and France at 8.5.
However, the U. S. fatality rate was lower than Austria (8.9), Canada (9.2), Israel (9.6), New Zealand (10.1), Japan (10.3), Iceland (10.9), Belgium (11.1), Slovenia (16.5), South Korea (19.3) and the Czech Republic (20.6) among the countries reporting. Given that Americans were significantly safer in 2008, we may move up in the rankings in the next International Road Traffic Accident Data (IRTAD) report unless our downward trend was merely a reflection of the international economic crisis and other advanced societies had the same experience.
When it comes to sheer highway carnage, of course, the U. S. was far and away the leader with 2007 road deaths of 42,642, thanks to its huge area, population and vehicle numbers. The next worst was Japan with a mere 7,272, South Korea at 6,372, Poland 5,243, Germany 5,091, France 4,709, Spain 4,104, Great Britain 3,194, Canada 2,892, Greece 1,657, Australia 1,598, Hungary 1,303 and Czech Republic 1,063.
All the rest reported fewer than 1,000 highway deaths-in line with the State of Michigan alone last year. Tiny Iceland reported only 31 deaths in 2007. Few of the Second and Third World countries reported highway deaths for the IRTAD report.
It will be interesting, at least for me, and I realize many readers’ eyes may be rolling with all these numbers-to see how America fares in the “safe highways” race when the international report for 2008 is published.
For travelers overseas, these statistics might give one pause when considering a car rental.
Mike,
I noticed you were quick to give credit to road designers, car designers, and law enforcement officials, and legislators for their work in lowering the death count on our US roads. And they certainly deserve it. But can you imagine how low our statistics might go if we had a more demanding requirement for new driver training?
I can not speak for every country outside of the US, but both Sweden and Germany have much more demanding programs for new driver training, including driving parts where students are required to demonstrate their car handling abilities on slick surfaces. Here in the states most new drivers discover just how different it is driving on a slick surface when they encounter one for the first time….on public roads. That can be a very expensive driving lesson in many ways.
Driving is one of the greatest and most satisfying activities most people will ever know. If we required people to learn and experience more about vehicle dynamics and handling before they entered public roads, we would all be better off. The savings in lives and damages would easily offset the expense.
While this training should be required, a well run school could actually be an experience people would look forward to having. While it would be most valuable to new drivers, it would also help to sharpen the skills of many existing drivers.
I am unable to speak about other countries but I understand Sweden has a very low tolerence for alchol & driving. So as long as we are passing credit around I think we should thank MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING (MADD) which I happen to support.