Red States - Less safe

[imported_tajmahal]

I don't understand how WY can be so high. Literally no one else there to crash into.

No trees

Nothing.

How??

You claim to live in Colorado and think that Wyoming is flat with no trees...... you know like the eastern 1/3 of Colorado is? Take a vacation and look for yourself.

 

[herm0016]

I don't understand how WY can be so high. Literally no one else there to crash into.

No trees

Nothing.

How??

Lol. Wyoming is a dangerous place to drive. High winds, ice and snow, lots of animals and long distances between places, high elevations, steep grades.. I spent 5 years driving all over wy, Ut, co, mt, nd for work.

 

[Muse]

Lol. Wyoming is a dangerous place to drive. High winds, ice and snow, lots of animals and long distances between places, high elevations, steep grades.. I spent 5 years driving all over wy, Ut, co, mt, nd for work.

Saw a story on network news tonight (NBC). Deaths from speeding up a lot since pandemic. People used to traffic suddenly see open road ahead of them and their right foot presses deeper on the pedal. Zooom! Booom!

 

[vi edit]

Rural drinking. Corn fields. Deer. Long open spaces. Trees. Not well marked curves. I lost 3 classmates, my wife lost more. Not much to do in flyover states but drink, shoot shit and drive. Order is optional.

 

[MrSquished]

You claim to live in Colorado and think that Wyoming is flat with no trees...... you know like the eastern 1/3 of Colorado is? Take a vacation and look for yourself.

From other data posted, looks like Wyoming has a much higher average of DWI's than other states. You didn't take that into account now would you? Always the dishonest shithead aren't you?

Seems it's true what they say about Republican rednecks. They are pieces of shit. It's more about personal responsibility with drinking and driving there - you do you, if you get caught, your bad. If people die... Thoughts and prayers then. Just avoid the police and it's all good.

Sounds about right. Completely selfish existence. Sounds just like today's evil trumpet GQP. Of which you personify perfectly.

 

[Bitek]

You claim to live in Colorado and think that Wyoming is flat with no trees...... you know like the eastern 1/3 of Colorado is? Take a vacation and look for yourself.

Yes, it's quite boring once you get out on the plains.

Cheyenne is boring and windy.

I'll accept sheer boredom as a root cause (after alcohol)... But then you'd expect NE, KS, or MO to be higher.

Really, once you get east of Denver, I-70 its dreadfully boring until you get to WV.

Lol. Wyoming is a dangerous place to drive. High winds, ice and snow, lots of animals and long distances between places, high elevations, steep grades.. I spent 5 years driving all over wy, Ut, co, mt, nd for work.

Wind.. Hell yes. Mountainous in parts, yes, but that's not terribly unique.

Animals? Eh. I haven't driven in WY as much as you have, but generally I don't see any amount of animals on the roads in the West like you do out East.

NY state for example, also has nasty winter weather, lots of steep, curvy roads, lots of idiots, and metric fucck tons of deer hiding in dense forests on the roads edge ready to jump out in front of cars at any time. Spattered deer on the side of the road is common place.

Same for much of the Appalachians, but obviously winter becomes less hazardous further south.

Hitting one in WY or plains areas? You can see them easily hundreds of yards out. Nowhere to hide. Plus it's dry and rather barren in parts, the density of animals isn't there like the the East Coast.

 

[Bitek]

Ok, so I had to look this up.

https://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/odds-of-hitting-deer.aspx

WY is shockingly high (#6?!), but WV is #1: PA is also really high (#3). Iowa is #5, MI, MT and WI are high.

CO is #41.

If you are in the plains, deer are far away and easy to spot. If in mountains, deer are rarely seen. Desert southwest near UT? Don't see too many deer. Hot and dry.

Still can't understand what they are doing, unless it's a localized problem, say in the Jackson Hole /Teton area.

Edit: got stuck deep diving

Yellowstone/Teton/Jackson is in NW. Cody is also dangerous.

State map of high strike areas

 

[pmv]

Does the chart/graph include miles driven?

Of course not, because if it did it would skew the results where the posters don't want them to go.

Maps: The states with the most and fewest traffic deaths

Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters explain politics, policy, world affairs, technology, culture, science, the climate crisis, money...

www.vox.com

You were saying?

 

[pmv]

Incidentally, 'by miles driven' is itself skewing the figures, because places that provide decent public transport (and which encourage high population density) are going to have fewer miles driven. Having a high number of miles driven is part of the problem, not an excuse. But in any case, contrary to Taj's optimistic (and snidely-expressed) claim, it doesn't actually change the rankings much - because the 'red states' have fewer people so fewer miles driven even if distances are greater.
I note that California and Florida look slightly better when looked at via miles-driven. Not a lot of change I can see apart from that.

The most you could argue is that low-population-density states have more roads that are hard to maintain properly. Seems it's mostly just down to terrible driving, though, judging from those DUI figures.

 

[pmv]

Found an interesting analysis of the issue. Concludes the primary variable is 'population density', which explains both road-deaths and political affiliation.

Of course, it doesn't address the point that 'population density' is itself a matter of politics and culture to a large extent. Maintaining a low population density is partly a choice.

Really, the political divide in the US is similar to how it is in Afghanistan - it's the rural low-population areas that produce the crazies.

A sensible electoral system would _underrepresent_ low-population areas, giving them fewer representatives per-capita, rather than more. Because living in such areas tends to send people crazy.

Why are there more traffic deaths in red states?

A quick look at the data reveals that there is a third factor at play.

grist.org

 

[HomerJS]

Maps: The states with the most and fewest traffic deaths

Vox is a general interest news site for the 21st century. Its mission: to help everyone understand our complicated world, so that we can all help shape it. In text, video and audio, our reporters explain politics, policy, world affairs, technology, culture, science, the climate crisis, money...

www.vox.com

You were saying?

Ooops. Poor Tajy. Slapped in the face with facts is a bitch

 

[Pohemi]

Does the chart/graph include miles driven?

Of course not, because if it did it would skew the results where the posters don't want them to go.

You were saying?

Ooops. Poor Tajy. Slapped in the face with facts is a bitch

He's always an anti-factual fucking idiot, it's nothing new from him and shouldn't be a surprise when he posts nothing but FUD.

 

[vi edit]

Teen driving rates in rural areas is so much higher than urban. If you haven't ever lived in rural areas you wouldn't understand. When my my wife was growing up in South Dakota you could start driving at 14. I was doing several hour drives by myself at 16. You put that many young kids behind a wheel and you are going to have accidents. Too young, dangerous and inexperienced.

I know so many urban kids that don't even have licenses. My 13 year old has no desire to drive. Bikes and public transit get her where she needs to go.

 

[Mai72]

But, they have the life-force of Jesus on their sides! When I lived in Thailand I refused to take the bike taxis because Thailand is just awful in regard to motor deaths. They are in the top 3 of the world with road fatalities. I told my Thai gf that it's dangerous, and she yelled. DANGER! The Buudha says no danger. I said if a car smacks into the side of my motorbike the Buddha isn't going to help me.

I live now in NJ. The cops will stop you for not wearing a seat belt. Yea, it is excessive but it's for good measure. They save lives.

 

[Muse]

Teen driving rates in rural areas is so much higher than urban. If you haven't ever lived in rural areas you wouldn't understand. When my my wife was growing up in South Dakota you could start driving at 14. I was doing several hour drives by myself at 16. You put that many young kids behind a wheel and you are going to have accidents. Too young, dangerous and inexperienced.

I know so many urban kids that don't even have licenses. My 13 year old has no desire to drive. Bikes and public transit get her where she needs to go.

I was a dangerous person at 16 in Los Angeles. That's when I got my learner's permit. I learned with my Mom in her 54 Olds. That car had a V8, dual exhaust and 4 barrel carburetor. Real good acceleration. Once I had my license I'd drag my best friend, who was in his mom's 57 Chevy with similar engine, etc. It's a wonder we didn't have any accidents. It took 10 years before I came to my senses in a car. After getting several speeding tickets a judge sent me to sessions where I was shown video of the horrific consequences of reckless driving and I was OMG, I'm gonna change! Since then the only accident I remember is my side rear view mirror getting clipped because I was too close to a bus on the main drag (Market Street) in San Francisco almost 20 years ago. Had to replace that mirror.

My cousin and her ~19 YO son live in San Francisco. Neither have a car and don't ever intend to have one. She grew up in NYC, and AFAIK has never had a car. Money is no object, she just doesn't want to own a car. Her son rides a bicycle. He figures he'll never own a car. He plans to tour the country on his bike this coming year!

 

[vi edit]

Does the chart/graph include miles driven?

Of course not, because if it did it would skew the results where the posters don't want them to go.

Doesn't really matter. You can spend 30 minutes going 25 miles in butt fuck no where or you can spend 30 minutes going 4 miles on a gridlocked interstate. I can guarantee which one has a higher chance of killing you.

 

[HomerJS]

Doesn't really matter. You can spend 30 minutes going 25 miles in butt fuck no where or you can spend 30 minutes going 4 miles on a gridlocked interstate. I can guarantee which one has a higher chance of killing you.

I drive on the beltway during the week. Not very far but it is hazardous. The loop around DC takes advanced somewhat aggressive driving.

 

[vi edit]

It still comes down to speed kills. If you spend more time at high speeds you have a higher chance of death.

 

[Muse]

I drive on the beltway during the week. Not very far but it is hazardous. The loop around DC takes advanced somewhat aggressive driving.

The last year I have quad roller skated (local streets) about 5x as far as I've driven my car. FACT! Less than 400 miles in my coupe. Almost 2000 miles on my skates.

I should skate a lot more this year, actually. On my birthday earlier this month I upped my daily skate to 10 miles. Most of the last year it was about 5.5 miles.

 

[pmv]

Ok, so I had to look this up.

https://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/odds-of-hitting-deer.aspx

WY is shockingly high (#6?!), but WV is #1: PA is also really high (#3). Iowa is #5, MI, MT and WI are high.

CO is #41.

If you are in the plains, deer are far away and easy to spot. If in mountains, deer are rarely seen. Desert southwest near UT? Don't see too many deer. Hot and dry.

Still can't understand what they are doing, unless it's a localized problem, say in the Jackson Hole /Teton area.

Edit: got stuck deep diving

Yellowstone/Teton/Jackson is in NW. Cody is also dangerous.

State map of high strike areas

I have a mental image of a group of deer crowding round to look at that map.

 

[Muse]

I have a mental image of a group of deer crowding round to look at that map.

No gecko?

 

[vi edit]

Deer on rural roads are one thing. Usually swerving and trying to avoid it are worse than just hitting it. You end up hitting a tree, going into a ditch, or swerve into the other lane for a head on collision.

The worse is a deer running across the interstate. You are just doing so much faster and there's other cars to worry about. One hits the deer and sends a carcass and spray of viscera across the other lanes. It's awful.

 

[vi edit]

The last year I have quad roller skated (local streets) about 5x as far as I've driven my car. FACT! Less than 400 miles in my coupe. Almost 2000 miles on my skates.

I should skate a lot more this year, actually. On my birthday earlier this month I upped my daily skate to 10 miles. Most of the last year it was about 5.5 miles.

Yeah I've put over 2000 miles on a bike in the last calendar year in Portland. 90% of it was on car free dedicated bike trails or roads/streets with a well defined or guarded bike lane. Hell, even going outside of Portland, many of the country roads have a well defined shoulder/bike lane. Contrast that to where I was in Lexington, KY and I wouldn't have even thought of using a bike. Literal death wish. A competing hospital in town had several MD's killed riding their bike to work. There were no bike lanes, people weren't used to bikes, and people were actively hostile to bikers/pedestrians there. I had several people try to run me off the road when running on rural roads in the AM. Even alternative means of transportation in some places are pretty unsafe.

 

[Leeea]

Deer on rural roads are one thing. Usually swerving and trying to avoid it are worse than just hitting it. You end up hitting a tree, going into a ditch, or swerve into the other lane for a head on collision.

The worse is a deer running across the interstate. You are just doing so much faster and there's other cars to worry about. One hits the deer and sends a carcass and spray of viscera across the other lanes. It's awful.

Totally true.

Although it is safe to swerve once you have your speed reduced down (about 25 mph or so on a dry summer road). At that speed though your just going to give the deer a love tap.

All five deer I have hit in my life happened so quickly I never had time to react. I only saw one deer prior to hitting it, and there simply was no time to do anything. Oh, hit an owl & a goose to.

With the exception of the goose, it was always a "what just happened" moment. The owl was the worst, damage and mess wise.

The deer I hit at night on the interstate happened so fast I was a good 1/2 mile (25 seconds or so) down the road before I fully processed what just happened. The only thing I had time to do before hitting it was to put both hands on the wheel. It did no damage to the car (passed right over it, it popped the car up in the air a touch, it was dead before I hit it, and it was massive). The car behind me (who was following to closely) snowplowed it and took a lot of damage.

 

[nakedfrog]

Teen driving rates in rural areas is so much higher than urban. If you haven't ever lived in rural areas you wouldn't understand. When my my wife was growing up in South Dakota you could start driving at 14. I was doing several hour drives by myself at 16. You put that many young kids behind a wheel and you are going to have accidents. Too young, dangerous and inexperienced.

I know so many urban kids that don't even have licenses. My 13 year old has no desire to drive. Bikes and public transit get her where she needs to go.

Yes, in Nebraska there are a bunch of farm kids getting their licenses before 16, and it's not hard to get a license in NE. You're supposed to drive a certain number of hours before you can take the test, but it's on the honor system and your parents just have to fill out a log book.
Meanwhile, in Washington state, you have to finish a certified driving course and log hours with an instructor to get your license if you're under 18.