The American Automobile Association initiated a “Highway Death Rate” statistic to show the number of people killed in automobiles per 100,000 vehicle miles in 1926. This duty was transferred to the National Highway Safety Administration after the NHTSA was created. The historical change in the death rate was downward at about 4 to 5 percent annually.

OPEC or its predecessors turned off the oil flow in 1973. The lack of fuel reduced the accidents and resulting deaths shortly thereafter. Then, as a “fuel saving measure” Congress passed the National Speed Limit of 55 MPH, which of course applied primarily to the safest highways in the nation anyway, the Interstate system. When rigid enforcement was added, the death rate took an upward swing and in 1977 crossed to above the projections for deaths if there had been no change in fuel availability or speed limits. The rate of highway death increases was 5% for 1977, 1978, 1979, and only a slightly lower increase in 1980 by which time we had become accustomed to paying 80 cents for a gallon of gas. The price in 1973 had been less than 40 cents a gallon, and the increased speeds as we became used to the higher prices had resulted in a reduction of the congestion that had caused the increased deaths. Two states with especially rigid enforcement had experienced an increase of almost 10% annually.

This bad idea resulted in the only multi-year sustained increase in the death rate which was ever recorded.

This rather clearly presents this question as, how much gas is a human life worth?

My answer is way too much, find a better way. My answer for the better way is biodiesel fuel from algae which will not take any foodstuffs from humans or food animals, will reduce the CO2 in the air as algae consume CO2 in their growth process and will also increase the O2 in the air as algae release O2 as a growth process. Biodiesel would require no changes in the fuel distribution system we now use and could be applied to passenger cars as well as trucks. When created from algae the process is highly efficient and results in much lower costs.

If you are worried about the noise from diesels, I suggest that you check the new diesel pickup trucks from GM. Ford and Dodge, or if you can find one, a new Jaguar diesel sports sedan. The lack of noise will surprise you.