It just gets better and better. They are cutting out leisure travel,
aka wasteful hypermobility, and saving lives.

"Highways in the US are at their safest since the 1960s as the
rocketing price of petrol puts a strain on America's love affair with
fast cars.

The number of fatalities on US roads is on track to fall by 10%% this
year to around 37,000 - the lowest since 1961, according to research
suggesting that deaths are plummeting as people cut out leisure
travel, especially in the evenings, to save money.

When global oil prices accelerated during the spring, the number of
fatalities slumped by 22%% in March and by 18%% in April, the University
of Michigan's transportation research institute found.

"It seems as if we have changed our driving behaviour rapidly and
drastically in the last few months," said Michael Sivak, a research
professor at the institute.

As cash-strapped motorists look for savings, they first tend to reduce
their mileage on recreational outings. These are often in the dark and
are more likely to be on high-speed rural roads than on relatively
safe urban commuter routes..."

Doug wrote:

OT in uk.transport

Doug riseup.net> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were
saying:

Just for your information... Adjusted for the difference in population
between the UK and the US, that's around 2.5 times the road death rate of
the UK.

Adrian wrote:

"Brimstone" yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:9IqdnYjO9LmAmijVnZ2dnUVZ8vOdnZ2d@bt.com...

Not really , as there is the same effect felt over here.
Roads *are* quieter and traffic does go slower on the motorway , though the
two combine to give similar overall journey times

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

Yes, it does go slower. It was that slow it took me 5 hours to do what
usually takes me 2.5 hours last Friday afternoon. Traffic jams everywhere.

Mike P wrote:

"Mike P" privacy.net> wrote in message
news:6hkmofFmc01tU1@mid.individual.net...

Dr Zoidberg wrote:

"Dr Zoidberg" drzoidberg.co.uk> wrote in message
news:g93c01$bm7$1@registered.motzarella.org...

I bet many people would leave home slightly later and drive at the same
speed as normal in order to arrive at work at the normal time. You are
probably unusual (though in a good way!) for leaving home at the same time
as normal but driving slower than you would otherwise.

I was amazed at how quiet the roads were on BH Monday when I drove from
Oxford to Bath and back. At one point on the M4 in the mid morning, there
were no cars as far as the eye could see in front of or behind me!