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Add to FavoritesThe National Speed Limit should not be set at 55 MPH. There are no sound studies showing that a speed limit is safer or more fuel efficient. While revenues may increase due to fines, this should not be a goal of any law.
A study conducted for the Federal Highway Administration showed that driver behavior did not change based on posted speed limits. If the speed limit was lowered, drivers did not slow down, nor did they speed up when limits were raised. The best compliance comes when limits are set at the 85th percentile of driver behavior. Since the repeal of the National Maximum Speed Limit in 1995, 32 states have raised limits to speeds of up to 75 MPH.
Statistics do not support the claim that safety is a prime reason to reduce fatalities. According to the NHTSA 2004 Traffic Safety Data report, "In 2004, 86 percent of speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were not Interstate highways." So while insurance companies and municipalities looking to raise revenues through increased premiums or fines may throw statistics around to scare people into thinking a national speed limit on interstates will save more lives, their numbers do not support their claim, since most speed related incidents occur elsewhere. If safety was truly the goal, the focus would be on reducing non-interstate highway fatalities.
There many other factors are in play when talking about speed statistics. The same report breaks down the incidence of speed-related fatalities and crashes by age, alcohol use, time of day, and use of restraints. Perhaps we should make it illegal for those under 21 to drive on interstate highways, as they are the most likely to be speeding and causing crashes. Additionally, even if speed is reported as being a factor, it may not be the primary reason for the crash.
Crash statistics in the years from 1994-2004 show a relatively flat number of fatal crashes, yet the number of miles driven has increased. This would show a drop in percentage of fatal crashes. In fact, highway deaths in 1975 were 44,525, yet miles driven were much lower. 1980 showed the highest number of fatalities at 51,091, yet the 55 MPH speed limit was in effect that year. Maybe increased safety standards for vehicles and better education for consumers should be given credit for the decrease in fatal accidents.
Fuel efficiency is not a solid reason, either, as other strategies are available and more effective. While it is true that cars are more efficient at certain speeds, our highway mileage is more efficient than our in-town mileage. Rush hour traffic causes dramatic decreases in fuel mileage. If the goal is to increase our fuel efficiency as a nation, a better focus would be to encourage alternate work schedules to reduce highway loads a peak times, improve use of public transportation, and give incentives to companies that allow telecommuting. Educating drivers in proper vehicle and tire maintenance also would have a higher impact on fuel efficiency.
Many reports and highly reported statistics are promoted by insurance company agencies and websites. By nature, these statistics are quoted out of context of the studies to skew their case. Insurance companies benefit when speed limits are arbitrarily set to increase fines collected by governments. Since crashes are not increasing in proportion to the number of miles driven, insurance companies need to maintain their revenue streams. By changing laws to increase the number of traffic fines, they are ensuring justification for raising premiums.
Reinstating the National Speed Limit just doesn't make sense. Studies show there is little impact ofposted speed limits on driver behavior. There are no solid statistics to show that it will impact safety or fuel efficiency and revenue should not be the goal of a law sold to the public under these presumptions.
Sources:
http://www-nrd.nhtsa .dot.gov/Pubs/809915 .PDFhtml
http://www-fars.nhts a.dot.gov/Main/index .aspx
http://www.bts.gov/p ublications/national _transportation_stat istics/2002/html/tab le_02_01.html
http://www.motorists .org/speedlimits/
Learn more about this author, Teresa Aira.
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Yes
It is known that speed kills. The reason why speed kills so often is because the driver cannot control their vehicle. Despite feeling good, flying across the road stretch as though the car has wings, the speed levers allow for great mishandling while on the road.
THE SPEED DRIVER
The stops signs turn from green to orange, and the driver presses their foot on the pedal in order to make the fast-flying vehicle stop. What they do not anticipate is the fact that their speedy car needs more time to slow down in order to completely stop. The car screeches its tyres, a lone walker crossing the road hobbles at a mediocre rate, the car horn blares - but it is too late; CRASH! The car hit's the lone walker, busting up the window while they are at it. The car stops in the middle of the intersection, the shaken driver feels woozy about having hit someone - but the feeling only lasts seconds. Cars racing in the horizontal directions in order to beat the orange light fly right into the stopped car. BANG, BANG, BANG! The cars collide creating a total wreck on the highway, that blocks the roads for hours.
THE CURVED ROAD DRIVER
The fast flying driver is flying on the stretch of road late one afternoon. The light in the atmosphere is dim, and the road begins to shadow. However the driver is not worried, and even turns on the radio extra-loud as they hike up the speed of driving. The road is quiet, the vehicle is strong, and the hands driving are steady. However unrepentantly, a bend shows in the road. It curves around a sharp corner, and there is too little time for the driver to slow down. The driver presses hard on the pedal, and turns the steering wheel as sharply as possible. The vehicle overturns, and spins over, and smashes top-down against the sloped road side. The driver is seriously injured, and is suffocating on the air bag which is pressed into their injured face, with blood smeared all over its white balloon body. The driver needs to wait hours before help arrives.
THE RACE DRIVER
It's midnight, and drivers are out and about after having a few drinks at the local bar. Their mood is good, their senses are dulled, their actions are spontaneous. The driver stops by a red light, a car shows up and sits next to the driver - the drivers of both cars show expressions that anger each other for some reason. They decide to race. They rev their engine's and then when the green comes, the drivers go, picking up their speed at unusual rates. The cars fly across the street, and race through the next set of traffic lights. Then suddenly a flash flicks in the corner of an eye, as the other drivers veers off the main road with skid marks marking the flat road. The broken off driver meets a red light after they turn, and speeds through it. They don't see the late night shopper with groceries in hand move across the street. The person is hit, the driver speeds on swearing about having their car light ruined by the colliding, and then ends up loosing control and smashing into a lamp post. The remaining driver on the main road slows down as well, and then drives safely home oblivious to having done anything wrong. In the next few days the driver gets a letter, with a stiff fine, and a criminal charge at the driving offence.
So there are plenty of reasons to reduce the speed. The main reason is public safety - the drivers, and the non drivers both benefit from making sure they are safe when on the roads. So why not drop a few kilometres per hour, in order to make sure that safety comes first.
Learn more about this author, M Pereira.
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