HIGHER SPEEDS DO NOT KILL MORE
HIGHER SPEEDS DO NOT KILL MORE
ARMONK, NY: Longtime reader, Adele A., tells me that a column I wrote several years ago has been proven wrong. At that time I reported the fears of many traffic experts that raising the long standing Interstate speed limits to above 55 mph would cause many more crashes, and fatal ones at that. Adele refers me to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics which show that traffic deaths dropped to a new low in 1998. True, even in the 33 states which immediately raised their speed limits in 1995.
In 1998 there were 66,00 fewer highway injuries than in 1995. In fact, in 1997 the number of injuries per 100 million miles dropped to a new record low. The question has been raised, though, whether the drivers tend to be more alert to the potential danger while traveling faster, or do many continue to drive at the older lower speeds, or are our newer automobiles safer at any speed? Some data suggests that average highway speeds driven have remained below truly dangerous levels.
Older drivers may feel uncomfortable at the new maximum allowable speeds. There appear to be a larger number of white-haired drivers moving at slower speeds, often to the annoyance of other motorists. Should followers of this column come upon additional information on speed related subjects please tell us on this blog.
GHD202 all rights reserved
ARMONK, NY: Longtime reader, Adele A., tells me that a column I wrote several years ago has been proven wrong. At that time I reported the fears of many traffic experts that raising the long standing Interstate speed limits to above 55 mph would cause many more crashes, and fatal ones at that. Adele refers me to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics which show that traffic deaths dropped to a new low in 1998. True, even in the 33 states which immediately raised their speed limits in 1995.
In 1998 there were 66,00 fewer highway injuries than in 1995. In fact, in 1997 the number of injuries per 100 million miles dropped to a new record low. The question has been raised, though, whether the drivers tend to be more alert to the potential danger while traveling faster, or do many continue to drive at the older lower speeds, or are our newer automobiles safer at any speed? Some data suggests that average highway speeds driven have remained below truly dangerous levels.
Older drivers may feel uncomfortable at the new maximum allowable speeds. There appear to be a larger number of white-haired drivers moving at slower speeds, often to the annoyance of other motorists. Should followers of this column come upon additional information on speed related subjects please tell us on this blog.
GHD202 all rights reserved
posted by WRECK-LESS at Saturday, March 08, 2008
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