Grand total automotive deaths? | FerrariChat

Grand total automotive deaths?

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by Ershank, Apr 25, 2006.

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  1. Ershank

    Ershank Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2004
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    Jason Z
    #1 Ershank, Apr 25, 2006
    There was some argument in my "social consequences of technology" course, that automobiles may have been one of the worst technologies of all time. Among the discussion was a statement made by one of the students that "automobiles have caused the deaths of more people than both world wars combined"- and being that this student was particularly well read, it has peaked my curiousity as to how many automotive fatalities there have actually been, since the conception of the model T.

    I have been unable to find any figure whatsoever, or even an estimate, as to how many total fatalities have occured from this singular technology.
     
  2. chaserolls

    chaserolls Karting

    May 8, 2005
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    chase rolls
    #2 chaserolls, Apr 25, 2006
    this might be of nominal help: http://hazmat.dot.gov/riskmgmt/riskcompare.htm

    edit: look at the footnotes for more sources of information
     
  3. Choptop

    Choptop F1 Rookie

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    Alan Galbraith
    #3 Choptop, Apr 25, 2006
    both world wars? not likely.

    rough numbers?

    WWII 40-60 million (depending on who you ask)
    WW I 9-12 million (see note above)

    thats KILLED.

    start adding in injured? Fuggetabout it.

    cars dont come close.

    figure what? 50k a year (guessing high) in the US? Figure the further you got back in time the low that number per years gets... and quickly before the 50's. Same goes for the rest of the world.
     
  4. Choptop

    Choptop F1 Rookie

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    Alan Galbraith
    #4 Choptop, Apr 25, 2006
    the biggest killer of man, is man.

    disease would likely come second...
     
  5. Choptop

    Choptop F1 Rookie

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    Alan Galbraith
    #5 Choptop, Apr 25, 2006
  6. Choptop

    Choptop F1 Rookie

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    Alan Galbraith
    #6 Choptop, Apr 25, 2006
    actually just read a report from the World Health Org. that said there are about 1.2 million traffic deaths world wide each year (in 2006). The figure was reported at 1.1 million in 1998.

    So traffic death numbers can indeed be high.

    But you have to imagine the further back you go, the number per year is going to drop off quickly.

    Dunno, looks like it might be a close call.

    I'd still bet on the World Wars though.
     

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