ERF is not the reason Sweden has lower traffic deaths

[fallnangel3]

After being in my first ERF debate yesterday, and since I joined CM under my old screen name I have heard how Sweden ERF to 4 or 5 and how they have the lowest death rates.  So I have been sitting here doing my research on WHY they have the lowest death rates.  It isn't JUST because they practice ERF, there are a lot of other factors that go into why this is true

Sweden has a program called Vision Zero.  Now if you are like me, you have never once heard any of the passionate ERF moms EVER talk about Vision Zero, and how THAT is the major factor in why Sweden has 8.6 deaths per 100,000 vehicles and the United States has 18.5 deaths per 100,000 vehicles.

Vision Zero puts the blame not on the motorist for their traffic accidents, but that the city designers, and planners for designing the roads incorrect before.  Vision Zero has installed Central Safety Barriers on roads which reduces the amount of head on collisions by 80%.  They have lowered urban speed limits and have reduced the amount of injuries and deaths to pedestrians and cyclist by 50% (these are included in traffic deaths), AND they have a new law that REQUIRES all children under the age of 15 wear a helmet while riding in any vehicle.

Vision Zero does accept that accedents will happen but tries to remove anything that can cause an accident: traffic is slowed, intersections are redesigned, guard rails put up, and rigid roadside objects like trees and rocks are removed.  This reduces the amount of accidents even more!  Not to mention that Sweden has some of the best roads in the world to drive on.  Also their crash rate went down 40 years ago when they started driving on the other side of the road from us.

Also you can look at Sweden's car manufacturers for their safety features on their vehicles as being part of the reason they have fewer crashes.  These companies have developed cruise controll that adjusts to stay a safe distance from the vehicles around you, night vision similar to that used in the military, and sensitive alcohol sensors to name a few.

So by studying ALL of the factors that go into why Sweden has less traffic fatalities, I have decided that is not just because they ERF.  The reason that they have less is due to Vision Zero, and ALL of the changes to road systems that has resulted in, their laws including the helmet law for children under 15, and their 2 most popular car manufacturers having more advanced saftey features than the top 2 car manufacturers in the US.

http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Work-live/Government-politics/Reading/Road-safety/

http://monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/papers/visionzero.html

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0635.htm

[baby1love]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Actually I live in Indiana and they have started putting these barriers in the centers of the interstate to try to emlimate head on crashes. It has been proven to help reduce head on crashes.

[fallnangel3]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:19 PM

I live in Indiana too and have noticed them up.  They are doing all kinds of road work around here right now putting them up in some high volume areas

(Original Poster)

[lovegrayson]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:28 PM

In your research have you come upon statistics about the percentage of children injured in crashes and the serious of those injuries?  The information you have given is about percentage of crashes.  Concerning car seat usage, in my opinion, the statistic that would apply is percent of children injured during a crash versus those that sustained no or little injury.  I have not researched this so was just curious if you saw these numbers to compare. 

[fallnangel3]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:40 PM

The studies are done as a country on a whole.  AS a whole the whole country due to vision zero is having less wrecks, which is why there death rate is less.  Due to that alone is why their rate is lower not what some mothers have thrown around attempting to get you to believe that erf is the reason that the rates are lower. 

(Original Poster)

[trepsica]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:50 PM

ERF is ONE reason they have fewer crash related deaths, just like vision zero is ONE reason. it all adds up. the only point you seem to be making is that sweden has much better vehicle safety laws/provisions, therefore making the argument that children SHOULD rear face for an extended period.

[apexmommy]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:51 PM

Have you found anything that indicates a child SHOULDN'T erf? 

[lovegrayson]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 12:53 PM

I do understand that the statistics are as a country on a whole.  The question I am asking which you did not answer is what is the percentage of children injured in those crashes that they do have (as a whole country) compared to the percentage of children injured in crashes in the US.  My point is that this is the statistic that BOTH sides of this debate should be using. 

[fallnangel3]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 1:04 PM

I was mearly trying to point out that there are a lot of different factors that go into their lower death rate.  Mainly because since I see so many moms reference their lower death rate as a reason to erf, I wanted to do my own research on WHY it was lower.  This is the reasons that I found.  These are HUGE reasons as to why it is lower IMO, and they need to be out there where people can see them as a reason to why it is lower and not just one small part of the whole picture!

(Original Poster)

[fallnangel3]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 1:06 PM

"ERF is ONE reason they have fewer crash related deaths, just like vision zero is ONE reason. it all adds up. the only point you seem to be making is that sweden has much better vehicle safety laws/provisions, therefore making the argument that children SHOULD rear face for an extended period."

 

ERF is part of Vision Zero.  You need to look at everything and not just ERF as to understand why their death rate is lower.

(Original Poster)

[codysmama2609]

Jun. 18, 2009 at 1:58 PM

i love sweden...i want to move there!  lol

i should at least go and visit family that i have there.........