Fear vs Fact

[Djpete]

Found on the web, a bit old and american stats but still relevant...

Speed Limits: Fear vs. Fact
By Ben Langlotz
Edited by Kevin Atkinson
Jan 29, 1996


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FEAR:
"Speed Kills!"
FACT:
A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publication reports "no significant relationship between average speed and the fatality rate." And, "states with high average speeds do not have higher fatality rates than states with low average speeds."

FEAR:
"Fatalities are up."
FACT:
The fatality rate has been dropping steadily for decades, and is at an all time low. Absolute fatality numbers are deceptive, since they ignore the increasing number of cars on the road. Each motorist is safer than ever. (US DOT)

FEAR:
"Everyone will drive 10 mph over the limit."
FACT:
According to a 7-year, 1992 Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) study in which speed limits were varied at 100 locations nationwide and the resulting traffic flow analyzed, "raising posted speed limits by as much as 15 mph had little effect on motorists’ speeds," and "contrary to public perception…the data actually indicate that accident rates were reduced at sites where speed limits were raised."
Actual speeds rose only 1-2 mph on those interstates raising the limit to 65 mph in 1987, and the fastest 1% of drivers slowed down. (FHwA)


FEAR:
"High speed highways are unsafe."
FACT:
Only 4% of serious or fatal accidents occur on rural interstates nationwide. These are the safest highways in the nation. (US DOT)
[For example:] Oregon fastest interstates have a fatality rate about half that of all other roads. (ODOT)
The Oregon Traffic Safety Commission's list of eight "very dangerous" highway stretches includes no interstates or divided highways. (The Oregonian)


FEAR:
"Raising the limit to 65 mph raised fatalities."
FACT:
Comparing the years before and after the increase in the Federal limit to 65 mph in 1987, the fatality rate dropped by 3.5% lower on all roads in the 40 states that raised freeway limits than in the 10 that didn't. Some of the benefits came from drivers switching to faster, safer interstates from dangerous country roads. Thus, analysts who ignored the non-interstates and who used total fatalities instead of rates reached the opposite conclusion. Since limits were raised from 55 to 65, the national fatality rate has declined by 34%. (US DOT)

FEAR:
"Lowering the limit in 1973 saved lives."
FACT:
1974 enjoyed a substantial drop, but in the decades since, the fatality rate has dropped by another 50%, even as actual motorists' speeds have increased.

FEAR:
"1/3 of fatal accidents are 'speed related'"
FACT:
True, but NHTSA's definition of "speed related" includes 1) improper lane changes, 2) following to closely, 3) unsafe passing, 4) inattention, 5) reckless driving, 6) high speed chase, 7) erratic speeds, driving too fast for conditions (not necessarily above the limit), and 9) driving less than posted minimums.
Only 5% of fatalities are due to excess speed, irrespective of speed limits. (USDOT)
Because 72% of Oregonians "speed" on the highway, you would expect 72% of highway accidents to involve speeders; the actual numbers are much lower.

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Ben Langlotz
National Motorists Association, Oregon Chapter Coordinator
oregonnma@aol.com
www.motorists.com/ Cheers,
Pete

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