There is still a vast amount of work to be done...

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

If you had $1000 to work with, what could be done to stop cars from colliding in the first place? We have simple auton modes on our robots that drive them - can we design a car control system that wont let a driver cross the center line? Can we design a control system that will take over when a driver has a heart attack, stroke, passes out, faints... behind the wheel, and safely stops the car

My engineering instincts tell me there are many things we could do to knock that 43,000 number way down.

Originally Posted by GaryV1188

Half those deaths could be eliminated immediately, without any new technology. That's because they are caused by drunk drivers.

If you can get past the "nanny state" argument that was brought up with mandatory seatbelt usage, I bet you could add a breathalyzer type system to cars for less than $1000 each.

Or even removed from the car directly, give each bar a breathalyzer by the door so people who say they are fine but really aren't can check.

Wetzel