More than 41,000 deaths were recorded on American roads last year. Experts say American drivers break road rules, are frequently distracted and aren't often trained to handle emergency situations. I've driven a lot in Germany. The United States sits in the middle of the pack for highway safety in an analysis of 28 European, North American and Asian countries undertaken by Germany's Federal Highway Research Institute in 1998.
Portuguese roads are nearly twice as deadly as in the United States, the statistics say.
German and British roads are safer. German Federal Highway Research Institute Sinclair says the good safety records on German roads are particularly surprising because Germans drive so fast. Speeds over 140 mph are common on the nation's autobahns, he said. German tires have nylon caps that make them stiffer, better for handling at high speeds and less likely to lose treads. Firestone officials have said Americans prefer a softer ride and the caps aren't needed at American driving speeds.