Individual deaths can result in local change, perhaps mediated by liability concerns. It's become the cynic's take to point out how quickly an unprotected pede

Individual deaths can result in local change, perhaps mediated by liability concerns. It's become the cynic's take to point out how quickly an unprotected pedestrian crossing gets a traffic light after a fatal accident there. The media makes the thousand deaths at once -- and its response -- more salient than a thousand individual deaths. There is a decent bit of literature around the role of the human and his/her purported error in a plane or train crash, compared with the culpability of a negligent operator (i.e., driving drunk) of a motor vehicle. Also, the FAA and NTSB have a very broad mandate when it comes to regulating planes and trains, while the NHTSA has traditionally not been willing to impinge on individual rights, perceived or otherwise, in the name of safety.