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Study: Higher speed limits create dangers
USA Today | 24 Nov 03 | AP

Posted on 11/24/2003 1:11:14 PM PST by SLB

WASHINGTON (AP) — States that raised their speed limits to 70 mph or more saw a dramatic increase in the number of people killed in traffic accidents, according to a report released Monday by an auto safety group funded by insurers.

The study, compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and based on data collected by the Land Transport Safety Authority of New Zealand, determined 1,880 more people died between 1996 and 1999 in the 22 states with higher speed limits.

A separate review of six states by the institute found drivers traveling the fastest they have since long before Congress repealed the 55 mph national speed limit in November 1995. In Colorado, which has a speed limit of 75 mph, researchers observed one in four drivers going above 80 mph. In California, where the speed limit is 70 mph, one in five drivers was clocked at 80 mph.

The New Zealand government agency estimated the death rate for the 22 states that raised their speed limits on rural interstates in 1995 and 1996.

The 10 states that raised limits to 75 mph — all in the Midwest and West — experienced 38% more deaths per million miles driven than states with 65-mph limits, or approximately 780 more deaths.

The 12 states that raised their limits to 70 mph — including California, Florida, North Carolina and Missouri — saw a 35% increase, or 1,100 additional deaths.

Geographical differences in states may have contributed to the numbers. For example, the report said, drivers may go faster in Western states where cities are farther apart. The report didn't examine the effects of other trends, such as the increasing number of sport utility vehicles on the road then.

The Insurance Institute said there is no doubt, however, that when speed limits increase so do deaths. When the national speed limit of 55 mph was adopted 1974, fatality rates dropped, the Insurance Institute's chief scientist Allan Williams said.

The Insurance Institute's separate study of speeds in Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Mexico, Colorado and California also found that when rates are raised on rural interstates, speeding increased on urban interstates.

Average travel speeds on urban interstates in Atlanta, Boston and Washington were the same as or higher than on rural interstates near those cities, even though the speed limits on those urban interstates were 55 mph. In Atlanta, 78% of drivers on one urban interstate exceeded 70 mph, the report found.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: autobahn; car
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To: billorites
As I recall high school physics, force increases with the square of velocity

The primary cause of accidents on the highways in the western US is drivers dozing off. This used to be called highway hypnosis. States found that by increasing speed limits, drivers were less likely to doze off on long trips.

They abondoned highway hypnosis when trial lawyers complained that juries were reluctant to award damages against drivers who fell asleep at the wheel as opposed to violating a traffic law.

Insurance companies like to use highway death statistics to show that lower speeds and safer cars lower highway deaths.

The lower death rates they champion are directly attributable to the Viet Nam war, not lower speed limits or safer cars.
61 posted on 11/24/2003 3:02:14 PM PST by LittleJoe
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To: shaggy eel
If you are a Kiwi and female and single would you marry me. If you are a Kiwi and male or a female who is married would you please considered adopting me. I would do anything to get back down to New Zealand. It has got to be the most beautiful country in world with some of the neatest people.

PS: How can anyone in New Zealand consentrate long enough to do a long study when the average family drinks 74 gallons of Scotch Whiskey each year?
62 posted on 11/24/2003 3:07:53 PM PST by U S Army EOD (When the EOD technician screws up, he is always the first to notice.)
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To: big bad easter bunny
I was considering mentioning that plus the fact there are usually at least three families in each vehicle.
63 posted on 11/24/2003 3:10:39 PM PST by U S Army EOD (When the EOD technician screws up, he is always the first to notice.)
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To: _Jim
NOTE to IIHS: I'd like to see your statistics for the ages of those for which these 'numbers' apply.

From: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/alcohol/2002YFCAF/genfacts.html

YOUTH CRASH FATALITIES AGES 15 THROUGH 20

- More than one-third of all deaths for people aged 15 through 20 resulted from motor vehicle crashes (Vital Statistics Mortality Data -1998, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention). In 2000, more than one-third of these motor vehicle fatalities involved alcohol. More than two-thirds of the youth motor vehicle occupant fatalities did not use a seat belt or motorcycle helmet.

TRENDS

- The population of the United States, ages 15 through 20, decreased 2 percent from 24.3 million in 1982 to 23.9 million in 2000. During this period, motor vehicle fatalities for this age group decreased by 25 percent while alcohol-related fatalities decreased by 57 percent

- Despite this overall decline in the youth population between 1982 and 2000, this population started to increase in 1993. In fact, during the last 7 years, the youth population has increased by 14 percent; interestingly, during this period youth motor vehicle fatalities increased by 8 percent while youth alcohol-related fatalities remained constant.

- From 1990 through 2000, approximately 900 fewer young people died in traffic crashes (a 13 percent reduction) with approximately 1,200 fewer fatalities in alcohol-related crashes (a 34 percent reduction). In fact, the alcohol-related fatality rate has been cut from 16 to 10 deaths per 100,000 youth, a rate that has remained stable since 1995.

- Since 1989, fewer than half of youth motor vehicle fatalities were alcohol-related. Drinking and driving is no longer the leading cause of death for teenagers; motor vehicle crashes, however, remain so.

- In 2000, youth motor vehicle fatalities increased slightly from the previous year. Youth alcohol-related fatalities, however, increased by nearly 3 percent and have increased every year since 1997.




64 posted on 11/24/2003 3:12:26 PM PST by _Jim ( <--- Ann Coulter speaks on gutless Liberals (RealAudio files))
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To: SLB
Has anyone said DUH???
65 posted on 11/24/2003 3:12:41 PM PST by Poser
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To: U S Army EOD
PS: How can anyone in New Zealand concentrate long enough to do a long study when the average family drinks 74 gallons of Scotch Whiskey each year?

,,, you've stumbled over the downstream benefits of the welfare state [LOL!]. We lost the America's Cup and we didn't win the rugby world cup, so most of us are feeling very sorry for ourselves right now. However, summer's on it's way. If you do come back down here, let me know and I'll stack more Tui in the fridge for you. You'll always be welcome.

66 posted on 11/24/2003 3:15:50 PM PST by shaggy eel
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To: shaggy eel
Apparently none of them ever rode with my mother in law going from Waipukurau up to lake Toppo.
67 posted on 11/24/2003 3:16:14 PM PST by U S Army EOD (When the EOD technician screws up, he is always the first to notice.)
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To: CARTOUCHE
"Does the increasing number of vehicles on the road figure in? The correlation between increased speed and number of deaths is flawed. There are too many other factors not mentioned here as probables."

Absolutely. The increase in traffic across the country is astounding. States are looking at widening antiquated interstates, and creating lanes for trucks, to lighten the number of vehicles.
68 posted on 11/24/2003 3:17:44 PM PST by Darnright
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To: shaggy eel
. . an introduced species of kangaroo, called the Palmer wallaby, is being shot in high numbers because they're classed as pests.

Interesting. We just went to a nearby zoo and the Palmer wallaby was on display. Are these animals any challenge to a hunter (varmiter) or are they too tolerant of man and so no challenge? Are they good for anything - hides or meat? Why were they introduced? Inquiring minds (a varmiter) want to know. I'm looking for any excuse to visit!

69 posted on 11/24/2003 3:18:16 PM PST by toddst
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To: shaggy eel
If I get down there I just might stop by and knock up your neice. (The English knock up not the American knock up, you know).
70 posted on 11/24/2003 3:20:10 PM PST by U S Army EOD (When the EOD technician screws up, he is always the first to notice.)
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To: toddst
,,, not sure when they were introduced but I'd guess the late 1800s or early 1900s. Possums (different to the US sort) were introduced too, from Aussie. They run at around 70 million now and are pests too. One thing you should know... New Zealand has a 365 day hunting season here with no cost for permits. All sorts of deer and even Himalayan Thar can be shot without retrictions on numbers. In January I'm taking on a small business close to a range of mountains which will mean I'll be able to get into hunting a lot easier than in the past. Bang!
71 posted on 11/24/2003 3:26:57 PM PST by shaggy eel
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To: SLB
Please save us from the 'protect us at any cost people. Duh, living is dangerous and we are going to die, just a matter of when and how.
72 posted on 11/24/2003 3:29:51 PM PST by vladog
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To: U S Army EOD
Apparently none of them ever rode with my mother in law going from Waipukurau up to Lake Taupo.

,,, my niece rides a lot. She's a good girl. Can't vouch for your mother-in-law yet.

73 posted on 11/24/2003 3:31:15 PM PST by shaggy eel
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To: SLB
From:

Traffic Safety Facts 2002 - www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSFAnn/TSF2002EE.pdf

From pg iii We find:

The mission of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes.

In 2002, the Nation's crash fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel reached an historic low of 1.51.

Although this significant event is the result of much progress in reducing the number of deaths and injuries on our Nation's highways, total fatalities increased just slightly in 2002, reaching the highest level since 1990.

So, with an increasing population we will naturally get a larger "total fatalities" figure if the fatality rate per mile per person remains roughly the same; obviously, this figure is going down.
74 posted on 11/24/2003 3:33:18 PM PST by _Jim ( <--- Ann Coulter speaks on gutless Liberals (RealAudio files))
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To: SLB
some here have posted about the conflict of interest between the people that are doing the study. the insurance and local police forces and 'catch speeders', those evil people doing 65-80mph, have nothing but a mob mentality in extorting your money. many places show (ie simply looking at the autobahn) that higher speed limits makes safer driving. here is a great organization that fights this machine.... http://www.motorists.org
75 posted on 11/24/2003 3:36:17 PM PST by KOZ. (i'm so bad i should be in detention)
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To: shaggy eel
Now that is not completely true, we were not allowed to bag but 18 mallards per day during duck season, so there is some control. And in some places you are not allowed to shoot deer from helicopters although you can chase them down the mountain in one to the area where everybody else is waiting with the rifles.
76 posted on 11/24/2003 3:40:36 PM PST by U S Army EOD (When the EOD technician screws up, he is always the first to notice.)
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To: T.Smith
"It's the other 22% getting in our way that causes the accidents. If you don't do at least 75 mph on I85 through Atlanta, you're going to get run over. That's one of the things I love about this town."

Me too. I have a cousin who is an Atlanta city traffic cop. He don't write any tickets below 80.

77 posted on 11/24/2003 3:44:04 PM PST by Vigilantcitizen
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To: ClintonBeGone
What is the New Zealand government doing a speed limit study in the USA for?

Ford's got a new Kangaroo coming out next year.
==============================================
No, no, silly! You're always getting that mixed up.

It's the new Ford Kiwi, a new sporty metro that great on looks and on gas milage. It's hip! It's new! It's NOW! And it's under $20,000. The new Ford Kiwi-- just watch this bird go! Have you driven a Ford lately? (

And coming soon: The Toyota "Cantilope")

78 posted on 11/24/2003 3:46:37 PM PST by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
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To: U S Army EOD
we were not allowed to bag but 18 mallards per day during duck season

,,, sorry, forgot about duck season. It's around May, if I recall. The Aclimatisation Society controls that aspect and they have limits and a season.

79 posted on 11/24/2003 3:56:19 PM PST by shaggy eel
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Here's a zany idea...

Take the damn speedometer out of the car. That, and get rid of cruise control. Return the driver to being an integral part of the operation of the vehicle.

Seems many people spend more time behind the wheel concerned about how they're driving (and, in an equal number of cases, the exact opposite), as opposed to the act of driving itself. If you yank that infernal needle out of the dash, most sane people will travel at a pace comfortable to them and their abilities, leaving them to focus on their environment and potential hazards, as opposed to constantly taking their eyes off the road (bad thing) to check their speed.

80 posted on 11/24/2003 4:09:51 PM PST by Christopher
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