Death toll on British roads

DfT figures give the death toll on Britain's roads as 2000-2500 per year, or a rate of about 3.59 per 100,000 population. Most of this carnage is caused by motor vehicle use: take away the motor vehicle and the death toll would probably fall to single figures.

This figure given is almost certainly a gross underestimate.

It doesn't count the long term suffering, leading to eventual death, caused by motor vehicle pollution.

It doesn't count the non-human loss of life: I once killed a cat while driving. foxes, rabbits, badgers, grouse, pheasants, pigeons, toads, shrews and mice are all frequently victims of the motor vehicle, but they count for nothing in road fatality statistics.

And then there are the countless bugs squished onto radiator grills, front headlamps and registration plates.

It is true that cyclists kill too - hapless ants squashed under front wheels, and mosquitoes that fly into cyclists' mouths are two examples. But this is nowhere near the scale of the motor vehicle killing machine.

Should all these animals be excluded from the road death toll figures?

On 24/06/2013 15:59, wrote:

DfT figures give the death toll on Britain's roads as 2000-2500 per year, or a rate of about 3.59 per 100,000 population. Most of this carnage is caused by motor vehicle use: take away the motor vehicle and the death toll would probably fall to single figures.
This figure given is almost certainly a gross underestimate.
It doesn't count the long term suffering, leading to eventual death, caused by motor vehicle pollution.
It doesn't count the non-human loss of life: I once killed a cat while driving. foxes, rabbits, badgers, grouse, pheasants, pigeons, toads, shrews and mice are all frequently victims of the motor vehicle, but they count for nothing in road fatality statistics.
And then there are the countless bugs squished onto radiator grills, front headlamps and registration plates.
It is true that cyclists kill too - hapless ants squashed under front wheels, and mosquitoes that fly into cyclists' mouths are two examples. But this is nowhere near the scale of the motor vehicle killing machine.
Should all these animals be excluded from the road death toll figures?

Are you really that bored?

"JNugent" wrote in message ...

On 24/06/2013 15:59, wrote:

DfT figures give the death toll on Britain's roads as 2000-2500 per year,
or a rate of about 3.59 per 100,000 population. Most of this carnage is
caused by motor vehicle use: take away the motor vehicle and the death
toll would probably fall to single figures.
This figure given is almost certainly a gross underestimate.
It doesn't count the long term suffering, leading to eventual death,
caused by motor vehicle pollution.
It doesn't count the non-human loss of life: I once killed a cat while
driving. foxes, rabbits, badgers, grouse, pheasants, pigeons, toads,
shrews and mice are all frequently victims of the motor vehicle, but they
count for nothing in road fatality statistics.
And then there are the countless bugs squished onto radiator grills, front
headlamps and registration plates.
It is true that cyclists kill too - hapless ants squashed under front
wheels, and mosquitoes that fly into cyclists' mouths are two examples.
But this is nowhere near the scale of the motor vehicle killing machine.
Should all these animals be excluded from the road death toll figures?

Are you really that bored?

No, he's just that anal.

wrote:

[...] Should all these animals be excluded from the road death toll figures?

What? You mean, further call into question the "simply incredible
safety record"?

Side-salad: Brian Blessed, the actor, is embarking on a 2000-mile bus
tour around England in an effort to stop countless cats and dogs being
killed on Britain's roads each year (I sincerely hope his bus doesn't
run over any whilst on the campaign trail).

--
Alexis

"Pristine Bruise" wrote in message
...
wrote:

[...] Should all these animals be excluded from the road death toll
figures?

What? You mean, further call into question the "simply incredible
safety record"?

Side-salad: Brian Blessed, the actor, is embarking on a 2000-mile bus
tour around England in an effort to stop countless cats and dogs being
killed on Britain's roads each year (I sincerely hope his bus doesn't
run over any whilst on the campaign trail).

I'm sure they'll hear him coming

On Monday, 24 June 2013 17:37:36 UTC+1, Partac wrote:

No, he's just that anal.

If you want to get to the bottom of the mess, you have to be anal.

Mentalguy2k8 wrote:

"Pristine Bruise" wrote in message
...
wrote:

[...] Should all these animals be excluded from the road death toll
figures?

What? You mean, further call into question the "simply incredible
safety record"?

Side-salad: Brian Blessed, the actor, is embarking on a 2000-mile bus
tour around England in an effort to stop countless cats and dogs being
killed on Britain's roads each year (I sincerely hope his bus doesn't
run over any whilst on the campaign trail).

I'm sure they'll hear him coming

Yes, indeed - reminds me of that joke...

Complaining Man: "Tell Brian over there to cut the noise down."
Explaining Man: "But he's speaking to someone up in Scotland."
Complaining Man: "Well tell him to use the phone like everyone else."

--
Alexis

On Monday, June 24, 2013 6:38:36 PM UTC+2, Pristine Bruise wrote:
wrote:


Side-salad: Brian Blessed, the actor, is embarking on a 2000-mile bus
tour around England in an effort to stop countless cats and dogs being
killed on Britain's roads each year (I sincerely hope his bus doesn't
run over any whilst on the campaign trail).



Is he going to follow it up with a hang-gliding tour to stop countless birds being killed by cats every year?

wrote:

On Monday, June 24, 2013 6:38:36 PM UTC+2, Pristine Bruise wrote:
wrote:

Side-salad: Brian Blessed, the actor, is embarking on a 2000-mile bus
tour around England in an effort to stop countless cats and dogs being
killed on Britain's roads each year (I sincerely hope his bus doesn't
run over any whilst on the campaign trail).

Is he going to follow it up with a hang-gliding tour to stop countless birds being killed by cats every year?

Brian Blessed in a hand-glider - perish the thought!

Actually... well, I won't bore you with the details but his bus
campaign involves the use of electronic pet collars and the idea that
you can help control where your pets go and thus, to an extent, what
they get up to:

http://www.vetpro.co.uk/modules.php?...ticle&sid=1044

--
Alexis