Image: Flickr user bettyx1138
Here’s a bit of sunshine you may have missed in all of your holiday celebration: in 2008, more people in the U.S. died of poisoning than died in car accidents, for the first time in 30 years. Better yet, at least for those of us who avoid medication whenever we can, some 90 percent of poisoning deaths were caused by drug overdoses. The primary culprits? Opioid painkillers, like morphine, hydrocodone and oxycodone. In fact, the New York Times says these drugs were responsible for more deaths than heroin or cocaine.
In 2008, there were some 40,150 deaths related to poisoning, while there were 37,261 deaths in motor vehicles. The death rate in automobile accidents has declined since then, while we’re pretty sure that the number of poisoning deaths has gone the opposite direction (but no newer data is available to confirm this), thanks to the spread of “pill mills” catering to those with painkiller additions. In 2010, there were 32,708 fatalities behind the wheel, which still translates to “far too many,” but at least the numbers are moving in the right direction.
Image credit: Flickr user bettyx1138
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
