There are approximately 42,000 deaths each year in automobiles. Today we have all sorts of ways to minimize the risk; seatbelts, airbags and guardrails. All these things are having a positive on the affects and survivability of those involved in auto accidents. The number of accidents per million miles driven is about the same or a little lower, while the number of deaths per accident has decreased. Unfortunately the number of miles driven is increasing and thus we are having a tough time in the United States keeping the yearly death tolls under 42,000 folks. When we are talking about accidents and deaths in automobiles we see to be okay with that? Yet we complain about the number of soldiers killed in Iraq. We spend billions on weapon systems and safety procedures to fight wars, yet we are not pumping as much money into the things that are really killing Americans.

Now mind you, I am not by any means anti-military, coming from a military family. I am pro-military and do not complain about the spending on weapons systems. Indeed, I am proud of our men and women in uniform and applaud the transfer technologies that the R and D on these weapon systems delivers to our civilization, societies and industry. It is truly phenomenal including this little communication tool called the Internet. Now then let us discuss the issues of putting things in proper perspectives. Automobiles do not kill people, people kill people; misuse of an automobile or flagrant abuse of even a power tool can cause injury. However we need to make the automobile safer.

I propose someone look into the possibility of cars being partially designed with interior cab sections, which expand via pop-up Air Systems. The military is working with using such systems for fenders on convoy vehicles, which are like balloon with tough materials. An expandable air cab on a car would alleviate the need for expensive air bag systems, which cost over $1800 each, thus lowering the costs of the car for the average indebted consumer. The cars could be easily stacked in electronic automatic robotic elevator parking structures since the height would be cut down. If cars hit each other they would hit on an expandable material filled with air and bounce off absorbing the shock like the Saturn car where the side pops back to its normal material memory shaped self. These are preliminary thoughts. Think on this concept?

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/