The Privatization of Roads and Highways - Ludwig von Mises Institute

Who is Responsible for Traffic Deaths? 341
speed records in crowded conditions, in sharp contrast to those
who attempt to do so in places like the Salt Flats of Utah under
relatively safe conditions. 25 Drag races might even become rather
pedestrian. Who says that everyone should stay to the right, or
even left, while driving. Surely, this is far too restrictive for the
“free spirits” we are now describing. All of these rules, for that
matter, are merely bourgeois prejudices.
Yes, the death rate of this small tiny ilk might well skyrocket,
26 but that would reduce the overall death rate from vehicle
fatalities, as they killed each other off, and left alone the general
public which suffered all too long from their depredations.
So White’s assessment that road owners might well cater to dangerous
drivers tells against his very own thesis that this implies
more overall traffic fatalities. Says White: “The speedy driver has
a right to endanger himself and others by speeding so long as the
road owner and they consent. And consent they do, if they enter
a clearly-marked no-speed-limit highway.” 27 Yes, dangerous (not
merely “speedy”) drivers are a menace to all other motorists. But
if they voluntarily slaughter one another, this will make it less
likely they will pulverize us, not more likely. I stand by my contention
that private entrepreneurs will “generally find it profitable
. . . to virtually eliminate highway deaths.” Yes, a few
weirdos will perish under free enterprise, and bad cess to them.
White now moves on to a different issue:
Is government . . . criminally responsible for these deaths? The
answer to this question hinges on whether we consider individuals
to be coerced into driving on dangerous highways. In a
25The record is currently 763 miles per hour; www.landspeed.com/
(11/103).
26The Darwin Awards “commemorate the remains of individuals who
contribute to the improvement of our gene pool by removing themselves
from it in really stupid ways.” See on this www.darwinawards.com/
(11/1/03).
27White, “Comment on Block,” p. 3.