In 2024, 39,000 Americans died in road accidents. Relative to the size of the population, that is double the rate in France and four times Britain's. Beyond the poorest countries, only a handful—Kazakhstan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia—are worse. The rate of car deaths in America has risen over the past decade.
The toll reflects the country's car-dependent infrastructure: in 2024, 78% of American workers commuted by car, compared with 55% of Britons. America has one of the biggest road networks, and Americans drive more miles, particularly on high-speed "stroads"—a hybrid of a street and a road—shared with pedestrians. Cars tend to be bigger, making them more likely to kill on impact. Most accidents happen at night and many of the drivers are drunk. Sunbelt states are far more dangerous; more streets in those states are owned by state governments and highway engineers often prioritise efficiency over safety.
The error of youth is to believe that intelligence is a substitute for experience, while the error of age is to believe experience is a substitute for intelligence.