In 2009 (the latest data available from the US Center for Disease Control) there were a total of 31,347 firearms-related deaths in the US (I know, I was surprised at how high it was, too.  The gun lobby has done an outstanding job of keeping this out of the news.)

That same year we lost 33,883 lives in the US due to traffic fatalities according to NHTSA.

The US population is basically numb and accepting of both of these statistics, primarily based on protection of individual freedom.

Until that changes, my dream of fundamentally changing the way driver training occurs in the US will be unrealized.

What I am unwilling to do is give up.  I set out to make a difference, and even given the tremendous hue and cry regarding 2^nd Amendment rights, we can effect positive change in the driver training that is delivered.

I have amended my initial goal to take into account the realities that exist.

My goal now is to ensure that anyone that is given driving instruction (either as a novice or a seasoned driver) by my organization has the best possible chance of NOT becoming a statistic.  I can only do that by continuing to stress the importance of experiential learning and ongoing practice that form the cornerstones of our training philosophy.

Further, I will attempt through posts on this blog to pass on information to whoever seeks it on how to protect themselves from the mistakes of others (aka, my definition of defensive driving).