American traffic looks more quiet, more disciplined and less aggressive than dutch traffic according to some people. This could be explained by differences in the nature of the car fleet, traffic composition, traffic regulations and driver behaviour. If these impressions of quietness and discipline are really representative of the american traffic and if they are indicative of traffic, safety cannot be concluded from the available data. It is difficult to compare traffic safety in the netherlands and the USA. Available data tend to show that dutch traffic is more safe. On the other hand, appearances can be deceptive: a car which is driven uniformly, but is handled badly can leave the road in a bend, certainly if the driver is under the influence of alcohol. It is concluded that more research into causal connections is wanted.
Abstract