A recent news analysis estimated 34,000 Iraqi's were killed in 2006 stemming from the war. Many were unwitting victims, in the wrong place at the wrong time -- like in the market just getting groceries at the moment of a massive bomb blast.
For years, Americans have suffered more severe losses -- over 40,000 are killed on the roads. In Europe, the number is about the same. Again, many of those who die are unwitting victims in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Most crashes require several elements to come together in a single instant -- wandering out of your lane for an instant doesnt usually matter, unless there is a parked car on the side of the road, for example. To some extent, we are not completely innocent; we can't be completely vigilant 100% of the time. In fact, driving is a very forgiving environment if you examine all the goofy things we do behind the wheel.
Some portion of those crashes are because of rank stupidity -- no seat belt, drunkenness, excessive speeding -- but mostly, those who die are regular people like me and you.
That's why active safety technology is so important -- radar and machine vision systems are ever-vigilant. They nevere get tired, never get distracted, never get impatient.
The best driving capability resides in our brains -- at least when we are well rested, relaxed, and undistracted. But for all the other times (!), a helping hand from technology is a welcome thing indeed.
Iraq is in the midst of a great tragedy, and the scale of the suffering there is very great. But let's also remember that a tragedy on a similar scale happening right here at home.
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