It seems each cycling fatality is written up in on line forums and highlighted with a weight disproportionate to the statistical realities involved. As a counterpoint, if we estimate that approximately 45,000 people die in motorized vehicles annually, and divide that by 365 days, we have about 120 deaths per day. Imagine the handwringing if the media profiled each one of these deaths, and daily they were compiled and regurgitated in internet forums?
Organizations like MADD have exhaustively exploited alcohol-related statistics to promote their agenda- in a relative vacuum. DWI laws in the US are extremely permissive compared to much of the world. When it comes to vehicles, it is still the wild west. It took years to pass seatbelt laws. Lawmakers agonize over lowering the legal BAC limit from .10 to .08. Speed limits have risen and are lightly enforced at best. The judicial system appears to have an uncomfortable relationship with the ciminalizing of driving offenses. It is so skewed that I know of more people afraid of flying than driving. Vehicle safety isn't even on the radar. It is taken for granted.
Not a day goes by during a work commute by car that I don't see an accident scene of some sort. But I won't dwell on that, either.
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