Study Finds No More Deaths From Higher Speed Limit

[JDS]

Study Finds No More Deaths From Higher Speed Limit

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - The decision to raise the speed limit on Indiana's interstate highways to 70 mph three years ago did not lead to more deaths or severe injuries from crashes, a Purdue University study found.

State legislators heard worries that allowing speed limits on rural portions of interstates to rise from 65 mph would cause greater danger for motorists before the move was approved in 2005.

Fatalities on those highways, however, did not increase because drivers were already going faster than the posted speed limit and the differences in drivers' speeds were lowered, said Fred Mannering, a civil engineering professor at Purdue who was the study's co-author.

"Most drivers are at 70 or 75," he said. "When you have a driver at 55 and another at 80, you could see more accidents."

The Purdue researchers used a series of mathematical equations to tally accident probabilities based on motor vehicle accident data from 2004 and 2006, the years before and after the speed limit increased.

The model took into account weather, type of vehicle and other variables.

The study found higher accident rates for some non-interstate highways where speeds were increased.

"Interstate highways are designed for 70 miles per hour speeds," Mannering said. "The interstate has the capacity to withstand those speeds."

Indiana State Police who patrol Interstate 65 in the Lafayette area have not seen an increase in fatalities since the speed limit was increased.

"We are giving more tickets because we have increased the number of troopers at the post," said state police Sgt. Kim Riley of the Lafayette post

Some regular drivers of I-65 also agreed with the study.

"The amount of traffic, more cars on the road, leads to more accidents than the speed alone," said Kevin Deboy, the owner of Deboy Trucking in Rossville.

Bob Combs, who has been commuting an hour from the Clinton County town of Mulberry to Indianapolis for 25 years, said he agreed with the decision to raise the speed limit.

"If you run the interstate a lot, you'll see people tend to be more alert and pay more attention when they are driving at these speeds," Combs said. "Changing the speed was absolutely a good move."

[Cips]

When will they ever get it? It's the careless/reckless drivers that are causing the accidents.

[GTO_04]

Finally, a study where the data wasn't spoon fed by the insurance industry! About a year or so ago the Indianapolis star tried to jury rig their own study saying fatalities were up by 30%. What a joke. No wonder newspapers are in financial trouble, people are tired of reading garbage.

Now after all this, Congress will probably bring back "55" because of high gas prices and the need to "do something."

GTO_04

[lugnuts]

Now after all this, Congress will probably bring back "55" because of high gas prices and the need to "do something."

GTO_04

sadly the only thing it will do is generate more revenue.

[jerry540i]

Variance in speed, and not speed alone is the cause of accidents.

Think about it...everyone's going 80 and its no problem. Suddenly, there's someone going 50 in the right lane....variance in speed.

J/

[Ovencleaner]

If the limit was raised to 70/80, I would not go any faster.... I mean my car tops out at 100 I have never even taken it to 90.

[corkguykev]

sadly the only thing it will do is generate more revenue.

unfortunately this is true

with the economy over here taking a beating at the moment also, i have never seen more speedtraps in my life as i have since march.

i dont think its a coincidence............

[strangeknight]

Finally a test that shows what most people already know... I wish the Congress and Senate will go back to blowing each other and leave us alone with this 55 psl thing.

[AirMoore]

Finally, a study where the data wasn't spoon fed by the insurance industry!

I agree... there have been very very few independent studies that have popped up over time about this issue, but when they do they all say the same thing: No more deaths due to speed (alone).

[Stealth Stalker]

Variance in speed, and not speed alone is the cause of accidents.

The interesting coincidence is that this also applies to fuel economy. 70mph consistently yields better fuel economy than does 55mph. It's not the speed that is so much a factor. It is the acceleration and deceleration ratio that does that. If just slower speeds resulted in better MPG, then we'd get better mileage in the city than on the highway, wouldn't we?

It's a no brainer, which means the federal government will never get it.