Care to go for a drive, anyone???
	In 2001, in America, fourteen times more people were killed in automobile accidents than were killed in the September 11th terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.
	That’s 42,000 deaths in the USA (1,756 in Australia), and countless injuries, supposedly in the name of the freedom of efficient mobility.  And that’s in addition to the property losses, which also far exceeded the cost of September’s terrorist attacks many fold.
	Given all the attention paid to the terrorist, even if rightly so, one must still wonder why so little is publicized regarding the daily carnage on our roads, especially when it is due largely to the willingness of the public officials to avoid enforcement of the existing traffic laws, let alone creating and enforcing even better ones.
	The quick answer is cost-benefit.  The National Highway Transportation Safety Board believes it is simply somehow “better”” for the majority of people who do not perish for us to ignore the laws that would have made the journey safe for those that do.  The real answer, however, is that the masses don’t really accept that how they drive ultimately determines their own safety, and as for the safety of those around them, tough.
	Besides, it’s really great for the economy.  Imagine if you will the GNP (is that term still even used?) that accidents generate:  Additional new and used car sales, emergency and road crews and all their equipment, medical and rehab personnel and all their devices, rental and loaner cars, car insurance, car repair, driver’s education and the local media’s revenues.  Oh, and mortuaries and the like.
	Nope, nothing like a good auto accident to get that good ole money moving around, eh what?  And, adding to the problem, while it may be the selfishness and stupidity of the driver that is the root cause behind most accidents, the normal impetus against foolish behavior (i.e. the expense) is spread out so far among the masses that no one person need worry that they will have to pay for their crime.  No wonder the various industries that benefit most directly from accidents all quietly add capacity in anticipation of the next driver turned customer.
	You can’t change the situation, by the way.  Any attempt, such a President Carter’s “double nickel” speed limit, will be instantly portrayed as a direct violation of someone’s freedom to own and operate a deadly weapon with impunity (so long as it isn’t a politically incorrect firearm, of course).  Yep, so-called free societies will always defend the end the rights of individuals to break certain laws, especially so long as it’s good for the economy.  Two that immediately come to mind with regards to driving are those that govern speed and spacing.

		So face it.  You share the road with people who are willing to risk your life to leave for their appointments late, eat a meal from a drive through, and talk about both to their best friend, perhaps while drunk or stoned, and yes your fellow citizens will strike you down should you try to change any of that.  So, what to do?  What can you do when all the cars have to drive at pretty much the same speed, and everyone else wants to go fast enough so that, if there is a small problem, people will in fact die.  What can you do when driving the speed limit means someone is so stupid they ignore the million or so cars smack dab in front of you and concentrate on your rear bumper, thinking that if they can get past that they can have all the things they always deserved, most especially confirmation of their super human powers.
		What can you do indeed!  Well, since Hybrids are all about making life better, and since you need to be at least alive to have a better life, your editors thought that perhaps you might like to learn a little more about just how to get from point A to point B without getting killed, and perhaps without even getting mad.
	Impossible?  Well, not really.  Here’s our advice.  First, save your ego for when you do something better than a sixteen year old can do.  That leaves out speeding and tailgating.  Now, as for those who tailgate you, the answer is simple, don’t drive in the fast lane.  I know you should be able to, but life isn’t fair and so the fast lane is (thanks to a lack of enforcement) only for people who speed.  Period.  Now get over it.
	Just drive in the slow lane and refuse to tailgate.  As traffic tries to merge onto the freeway, here’s a novel idea:  Let them.  Leave early, and make a game of it.  Decide your life is worth spending another five minutes avoiding drivers who simply disagree that it is.  Drive the speed limit, and leave three seconds of empty space between you and whatever lies ahead.  That’s time enough to stop if what lies ahead isn’t going to move out of the way by the time you get there.  If nothing else, remember how much you paid for that great car of yours, and stop acting like it is torture spending another minute in it!
	Stay back three seconds, drive the speed limit, and you will arrive alive, refreshed and only a few minutes later.  Unlike the 42,000 Americans last year who never arrived at all.  A good number of whom caused their own deaths by speeding, tailgating, or being upset by someone else that did.  Just let the next suicidal maniac pass you.  Nay, help them pass you.  Get them on their way, and wish them well.  It is not your job to enforce the traffic laws.  It is up to the government, but there’s too much money at stake for anyone to make them do their job.  Never mind that, just you do yours:  Stay back, drive the speed limit, and get to point B happily and in one piece.
	Please.