How to save lives

During the last gasoline crisis in 1973-1974, 11,000 people didn't die in auto accidents. Maybe one of them was you, or your father so he was around to see that you were born. Americans will protest the war and/or high gasoline prices (not necessarily the same people), but ask them to slow down or drive less? Heresy! But like 35 years ago, fewer people are dying on our highways. Just here in the midwest, "Indiana fatalities are down 26%; Ohio's rate is off 20%, and the state recorded just six deaths over the Memorial Day weekend, the fewest in 38 years; Illinois' total also is off 20%, and Wisconsin is down about 30%." Traffic deaths fall

And for all our healthcare penny sorting and pie charts, trying to guess if Joe Sixpack would just lose 20 lbs how much would the nation save in diabetes or cardiovascular treatment, think of all the people who weren't even in non-fatal, but injury producing accidents. The savings in medical costs must be astronomical when you add those non-injured people to the list of 11,000.

Yes, cars are safer; roads are better; cops are being more vigilant. But if you drive 55 you really are more likely to arrive alive, that's not just a slogan. (In metropolitan areas you may even arrive sooner because traffic flow is smoother.) And you'll also save a few tankfuls on a long trip. But common sense isn't very common, is it?