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Registered
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 171
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Staggering Stastistic!
The cover story in the current edition of "AutoWeek" is entitled "Failing Our Children." I'll quote the opening line of the article verbatim:
"Since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, about 2600 American troops have been killed in combat and war-related incidents. The count is well-known and updated regularly in news reports. Did you know during the same 41-month period, more than 22,000 teenagers, ages 15 to 19, died in traffic accidents on U.S. roads?" That's 22,000! Not a typo. Think our media are leaning a little left, maybe? Think our media are not eager to upset their largest advertisers - the auto manufacturers, the beer brewers, etc.? Since we could easily reduce that figure - I wonder why no one has spoken up and made this a national concern, if not a cause? Really upsetting. 
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08-31-2006, 03:14 PM
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I'm off the hook.....
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: 22 miles south, then 11 miles west of LAS
Posts: 2,895
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Is the #1 cause of death for a teen.
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No, I don't sing. Based there for too long. |
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08-31-2006, 03:19 PM
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I'm with Bill
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Jensen Beach, FL
Posts: 13,028
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I read this article. It urged the Auto enthusiest to step up and make a difference.
My friend ownes Evolution Performance Driving School, she offers a teen driving class every so often. Its not about racing its about knowing your car and its limits. Its about looking ahead (sound familiar?) on the road, anticipating, and avoiding bad situations and when one arises, safely avoiding it. I was talking with my brother about this and we wondered what the reception would be from parents if we could offer this in schools as a Saturday of after School event. My wheels are turning. Driver education in the USA is a joke and it takes nothing to get a license.
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1978 Mini Cooper Pickup 1991 BMW 318i M50 2.8 swap 2005 Mini Cooper S 2014 BMW i3 Giga World - For sale in late March |
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08-31-2006, 03:29 PM
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Dog-faced pony soldier
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It takes next to nothing to get a license because politicians are in the back pockets of automakers, auto dealers, insurance companies and oil companies - all of whom WANT people out there driving (and consuming related goods & services) as quickly as possible. This is the reason meaningful appropriations towards mass transit have been routinely snubbed in favor of highway and roadway construction since the 1950s. I could post a bunch of sources backing this, but just Google it - you might be surprised at what you find (e.g. elimination of the "red cars" in L.A. c. 1950, L.A. monorail proposal defeated c. 1965, etc. just for a couple off the top of my head).
But don't forget, "it's a privilege. . ."  Yea, try to survive in our society without a car or license. . . It's like trying to survive without electricity.
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A car, a 911, a motorbike and a few surfboards Black Cars Matter |
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08-31-2006, 03:39 PM
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