"Dave Stadt" wrote in message news:_HEec.1395.

Traffic fatalities have been in the 40,000+ range since the 1940s. Many
more automobiles and many more miles driven but at the end of the year the
number of dead people has been the same for over 50 years.

Actually, TF's peaked in the 1980's at about 52,000 (??) and are now down to
the low 40K's.