Auto fatalities dropped in 2010 below 33,000, less than in any year since 1949. But AAA has just published an alarming report arguing that the cost of auto crashes is $300 billion a year. Since Americans spend only about $900 billion per year (select table 2.5.5 and add lines 54, 57, and 116) buying, operating, and maintaing cars, this makes accidents appear to be a significant portion of the cost of driving.
AAA’s worthwhile goal is to promote auto safety, but the report also feeds anti-auto arguments about the hidden costs of driving. Since auto critics also misuse AAA’s estimates of the cost of driving, it is worth reviewing this new report.
