Traffic Deaths and Shale Development

One thing you have to give the anti shale development crowd is that they are creative. They continually add to or change their message; like their core message the changes are just more misinformation.

Take for instance the new cry about shale development being responsible for more traffic deaths. The theory is that with more traffic on the roads  due to shale development that there is an increase in accidents resulting in more deaths. The problem with this theory, just as with the anti message in general, is that it is made up. There are no facts to back it up. (BTW I am speaking about Ohio)

In fact just the opposite is true. For the first time since traffic death record keeping began (1936) Ohio has had fewer than 1000 traffic deaths. In 2011 there were 1,016 deaths, 2012 1,122 deaths, at this point confirmed traffic deaths for 2013  is 923 with a few cases pending but even if all of them were confirmed the total would still only rise to 980.

So not only is there no increase in traffic deaths due to shale development, the number has actually gone down. This is just another example of a made up story spread by the anti shale crowd. 

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Permalink Reply by Joseph-Ohio on January 2, 2014 at 4:03am
Need to be a considerate driver.

Do not speed.

Obey traffic signals and signs (stop lights, stop signs, speed limits etc.).

Allow 1 car length for every 10 mph velocity as an assured clear distance ahead to enable stopping in time prior to rear ending the vehicle ahead of you.

Don't be an offensive, aggressive driver - rather be a defensive driver especially in foul weather / poor traffic / road surface conditions.

Don't be a reckless douche bag on the road instead be a sportsman.
Permalink Reply by Bill Barnaby on January 3, 2014 at 4:03am

I think in a nut shell just paying attention would reduce accidents. I bet speed accounts for a minimal amount of overall accidents and the fact people don't pay attention is the #1 cause. Speeding is just an easy way to judge if someone deserves a ticket, it's a lot easier to watch your radar gun or laser gun than it is to find a driver who is willing to be an idiot with a cop near them.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on January 3, 2014 at 5:08am

Speed limits have increased but accident rates have dropped. With the economy and wages having been on the decline driving is now regulated to a question of do I really need to and if the gas tank looks like a empty billfold.

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on January 2, 2014 at 9:03am

Why don't they go back and look at accident data when the steel mills were king? Or how about when coal mining was a huge industry in the area?  I am quite confident that the data will show current trucking is much safer then what it was before...better regs, better drivers, better equipment, better roads.

And how about doing a study to show all the health benefits like people with higher paying jobs have better insurance, better nutrition, lower drug use, lower alcoholism, lower suicide rates, less spouse abuse, lower divorce rates, lower crime rates, and on and on and on.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 2, 2014 at 11:02am

Jim,

Of course your pint is right on target but you are being too rational. The anti crowd doesn't really care about facts; they like making up their little stories with misused information

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on January 2, 2014 at 1:47pm

Mark;   Sorry about that but Mr Spock was my rule model as a kid. 'Logic and rational thought' is my mantra.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 2, 2014 at 6:31pm

Jim,

No need for an apology. I only meant to point out the obvious and you nailed it. There is no logic to anti shale folks. In fact, I believe that lack of clarity is intentional. They know there is no substance to their position so by playing loose and free with facts it allows them to shift their position as they see fit. Hopefully people see this for what it is which is a lack of sincerity and substantial basis for their position.

For now it's just fun pointing out how ridiculous  they are.

Permalink Reply by Gas Boy on January 3, 2014 at 3:44am

I did read an article about a year or so ago that some hiker in Washington State was walking to close to a wind turbine and the blade came around and sliced his body in half. 

Permalink Reply by Appalachian on January 3, 2014 at 4:45am

Must have been walking on a really tall ladder, or the blade struck him as the tower was collapsing....or he was really, really tall?  The lowest point of any blade on the towers I have seen must be 50' or better off the ground.

Sorry, but my BS meter just sounded off.

Permalink Reply by Billy Park Whyde on January 3, 2014 at 5:10am

It was the Jolly Green Giant.

Permalink Reply by Gas Boy on January 3, 2014 at 6:53am

I believe that it was a mother earther liberal who was "high"............

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on January 4, 2014 at 6:15am

Billy,

He's not so Jolly now !

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