[pbuzbee]

If I've learned anything from watching "Idiots in Cars" videos on Reddit, it's that you can go from "driving normally" to "in an accident" much faster than you think. Most people have very little experience reacting to imminent accidents on the road. Overall that's a good thing, but it certainly seems naive to think that simply being an attentive driver is enough to keep you out of accidents.

[djmips]

It's a good thing, because yes getting injured or killed in a car accident is horrible but it's not a good thing that they don't have any training at all. If driving was something done only in industry there would be proper training and a lot more safety precautions. I think about this every time I walk down this narrow sidewalk in my town that's 4 feet from the roadway. A friend of mine was recently in the crosshairs of a straying van and he was only saved by the luck of a telephone pole intervening.

[rustybelt]

Yes, but if half of all accidents involve idiots, not being an idiot is a legitimate way to reduce your risk of being in an accident. Meaning drivers do have some control over their level of risk behind the wheel.

[scrumbledober]

half of all accidents involve an idiot, but there only has to be one idiot in a two car collision.