The automobile changed everything, but the roads are dangerous.
July 13, 2007 (Friday) - Did you know that, around 1855, our country toyed with the idea of importing camels in great numbers? Better suited for desert uses, many felt they could eventually be used for bearing burdens and providing transportation. But that idea was abandoned after a few tests.
For years and years, the horse and mule were our mainstays as work animals. People walked a lot and used these animals for traveling greater distances. The trains provided a greatly enlarged opportunity for traveling greater distances. The automobile changed everything, by providing personal transportation for individuals and families. The personal cars of this country have changed the way our cities and countrysides look, and have given us tremendous freedom.
Our cities and states are filled with roadways. Many people, however, have not learned to be responsible drivers. Some of them are careless and rude. A great many people drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and this is one of the main reasons the streets and highways have become dangerous places to be.
According to preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2006, 17,941 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes - an average of one every half-hour. These deaths constituted approximately 41 percent of the 43,300 total traffic fatalities. Drunk (those at or above an illegal BAC of .08) drivers were involved in 13990 fatalities in 2006. About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. (NHTSA, 2001) For more information, see MADD.
There's no going back to the horse and carriage, and certainly not to the camel. It's up to us to be responsible drivers, being careful and observing the laws. The highways are dangerous. Be careful out there.