Speed Limits And Traffic Fatalities

July 14, 2012 in Daily Bulletin, Signature

Katy Waldman looked at the relationship between speed limits and traffic fatalities. Highlights include:

  • Raising speed limits does not lead to an increase in traffic accidents.
  • This is likely because each driver has a ‘comfort speed zone’ that they drive at, regardless of what the posted limit is.
  • In fact, raising speed limits can lower the rate of accidents because drivers are much more cautious with higher posted limits around.
  • However while the number of accidents stays the same or declines, the number of fatalities increase because each accident is more likely to result in death at higher speeds.

To read more including the details of the study, the second highest speed limit in the world, what the National Motorists Association suggests, the key to road safety, the 85th percentile speed, and links to various studies, click here.

Source: Slate