A 9/11 every month

From Reuters:

U.S. traffic deaths hit a 15-year high in 2005 with more people killed while riding motorcycles and in larger vehicles, government figures released on Tuesday confirmed.

The total number of traffic deaths rose 1.4 percent over 2004, to 43,443, even though the number of people killed in passenger cars actually declined by 3.9 percent, according to figures issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Total fatalities were slightly higher than a 43,200 estimate released by the agency in April. The 2005 traffic deaths were the most since the 44,599 in 1990.

That's 43,443 dead in 2005, or 3620 per month. Approximately 3000 people died in the 9/11 attacks. But we've got a "global war on terror," but no plans to replace our ridiculous system of having most adults in this country tooling about in lethal weapons. The government's response, of course, is to blame the victims:

"Motorcyclists need to wear their helmets, drivers need to buckle up and all motorists need to stay sober," acting U.S. Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino said in a statement.