New York Times: "Swedish attempt to cut traffic deaths to zero inspires a similar effort in New York"

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"STOCKHOLM — The quest to eradicate serious crashes here began with a happy accident.

"In 1967, looking to conform to the roadway patterns of its European neighbors, the Swedish government converted its street traffic from left-hand to right-hand driving.

"To the bafflement of transportation planners, fatality rates immediately plummeted. Was it driver vigilance? The low speed limits imposed at first to ease the change? The broad public awareness campaign?

"The stewards of what are now considered the world’s safest roads have spent nearly a half-century trying to figure it out."