Half A Century And A Billion Kilometres Safely

After 50 years of parallel development and growth, a comparison of safety statistics between U.S. public highways and the General Motors Proving Ground 200 km private road system shows: the Proving Ground has approximately a five times lower accident rate, seven times lower fatality rate, thirty-five times lower injury rate, and almost nine times lower property damage rate. Accident analysis and preventive countermeasures are discussed philosophically and by practical examples.

This exceptional safety record has been achieved by having trained drivers operating well-maintained vehicles on properly designed driving schedules using a road/roadside system designed for safety. All known Proving Ground accident causation factors now have operational countermeasures except sleep, and this remains a problem for which solutions are sought.

“Progress: There must always be a better way.”*