Unnecessary U.S. deaths - government official says "devastating"

Another day, another milestone.

Senseless deaths at record levels in 2005 as reported here:

Total U.S. traffic deaths in 2005 reached 43,200, according to the statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Every year this country experiences a national tragedy that is as preventable as it is devastating," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in a statement.

Some 16,972 of those deaths were alcohol related.

During the period from 2003 to 2006, over 120,000 Americans will have been killed getting from Point A to Point B.

UPDATE: Projecting from 2003 and 2004 figures,California alone will have over 3300 deaths from incidents involving a driver with a blood alcohol level above .08 for the period 2003 through 2006. Did I mention totally preventable?