Hi
@Drover,
interesting comparison.
There has NEVER been any attempt to completely eliminate road deaths. The solution has always been to just suppress it.
They could almost eliminate it by building better highways, reducing speed limits, installing devices in vehicles to make it impossible to drive while drunk, affected by drugs, or driving for more than two hours without a break, etc, etc.
We have been conditioned over many many years to accept suppression with regard to road deaths as long as there is some attempt to reduce the numbers.
The difference is that road deaths do not spread exponentially and the cause is usually easily identifiable and steps can be taken to prevent further repeats when a common cause is found. Driving while under the influence of alcohol and then drugs, seat belts, eliminating black spots, driver fatigue, speed and red light cameras, using mobile phones, etc, etc.
A virus spreads exponentially and does not necessarily kill the person transmitting it. One person can infect hundreds of other people. Look at cases in choirs, cruise ships, meat works.
Yes 108 deaths in Australia from the virus compared to 89 from road deaths in May seems out of step compared to the present panic.
But we have generally done well in Australia, mainly because we are an island, and with the exception of Victoria (quarantine hotels) and NSW (Ruby Princess) stopped most of the virus from spreading.
The 108 could easily now be 10,800 or more if we had followed the examples set by the leaders in the US, UK, Brazil, Netherlands, or Sweden.
But, unfortunately, the steps taken to suppress the virus have to continue. Otherwise we will just delay the exponential increase and all the initial restrictions that worked will have been in vain.
Exactly the same for road deaths. Having successfully reduce road deaths even with more vehicles on the road driving more kms, the tactics used must continue.
Can you imagine the effect of allowing unsafe cars on the road, allowing people to drive without seat belts, no policing of speeding, running red lights, no checks for driver fatigue, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and no attempt to build safer roads, no licenses.
At least while we are behind the ramparts of Fort Mike we hopefully won't die from the virus or a vehicle accident.
That suits me just fine at the moment.
take care
Mike