Since "double nickel" repeal, highway death rates fall
07-11-2006, 09:16 AM
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Since "double nickel" repeal, highway death rates fall
Since "double nickel" repeal, highway death rates fall
In the period between 1995 and 2005, the overall U.S. highway fatality rate has fallen 16 percent, according to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The data is particularly interesting, because in 1995 Congress repealed the national "double nickel" 55 mph speed limit. Many states have since raised their limits to anywhere from 70 to 80 mph. Before Congress scrapped the limit, advocate Ralph Nader claimed that "history will never forgive Congress for this assault on the sanctity of human life." Meanwhile, Judith Stone predicted that there would be "6,400 added highway fatalities a year and millions of more injuries," and Federico Pena, Secretary of Transportation, declared: "Allowing speed limits to rise above 55 simply means that more Americans will die and be injured on our highways."
In the period between 1995 and 2005, the overall U.S. highway fatality rate has fallen 16 percent, according to data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The data is particularly interesting, because in 1995 Congress repealed the national "double nickel" 55 mph speed limit. Many states have since raised their limits to anywhere from 70 to 80 mph. Before Congress scrapped the limit, advocate Ralph Nader claimed that "history will never forgive Congress for this assault on the sanctity of human life." Meanwhile, Judith Stone predicted that there would be "6,400 added highway fatalities a year and millions of more injuries," and Federico Pena, Secretary of Transportation, declared: "Allowing speed limits to rise above 55 simply means that more Americans will die and be injured on our highways."
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Related article from Wall Street Journal
07-11-2006, 09:29 AM
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I also remember reading some where that when you drive faster under normal condition (when you're not drunk or stoned or whatever) that you actually become more aware of your surroundings and make better decions. I have to find the article, but I remember it saying that you often check your mirrors more and tend to be more rational. I'm mean I guess it makes sense, when I'm going 80mph I am way more aware as opposed to when I'm going like 50mph. At slower speeds I tend to fiddle with my cars electronics as I assume most people do.
07-11-2006, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by xxy1xx
I also remember reading some where that when you drive faster under normal condition (when you're not drunk or stoned or whatever) that you actually become more aware of your surroundings and make better decions. I have to find the article, but I remember it saying that you often check your mirrors more and tend to be more rational. I'm mean I guess it makes sense, when I'm going 80mph I am way more aware as opposed to when I'm going like 50mph. At slower speeds I tend to fiddle with my cars electronics as I assume most people do.
07-11-2006, 12:18 PM
#7
The sizzle in the Steak
16% drop eh? Hmmmmm....if we bump the limits up to say...100-110mph will we get a 32% drop???? 
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07-11-2006, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Moog-Type-S
16% drop eh? Hmmmmm....if we bump the limits up to say...100-110mph will we get a 32% drop????
07-11-2006, 12:39 PM
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I think most of it has to do with the fact that cars are much safer and better engineered in regards to the suspension, brakes, and tires. Drive a 1995 Ford Tauras and compare it to a 2005 Ford Fusion or 500. The difference in the structure and suspsension is night and day.
07-13-2006, 09:12 AM
#12
Moderator Alumnus
It would be more interesting to see ALL of the data between 1995 and 2005. It's possible 2005 just had a record low year. What did 2004 look like?
Sorry but anyone who makes a decision without the rest of the data is foolish. (lol, your missing 90% of the information to make a informed decision)
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for higher speed limits. And I do think safer cars have helped out a ton. I just don't trust articles which leave large gaps in their data.
However this graph helps me make a better decision... (I stole it from a .pdf on the NHTSA website)
So (my article pessimism asside, I always second guess any article that has any political swing to it) it looks like we are doing better
, much better.
Sorry but anyone who makes a decision without the rest of the data is foolish. (lol, your missing 90% of the information to make a informed decision)
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for higher speed limits. And I do think safer cars have helped out a ton. I just don't trust articles which leave large gaps in their data.
However this graph helps me make a better decision... (I stole it from a .pdf on the NHTSA website)
So (my article pessimism asside, I always second guess any article that has any political swing to it) it looks like we are doing better
, much better.
07-13-2006, 10:14 AM
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Its amazing deaths have gone down cause to me it seems drivers are getting DUMBER on the HWYs 
07-13-2006, 11:23 AM
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so if higher speed limits = lower deaths, what's the highest the limits should go? i'm sure there's some point where stupidity will take over and deaths would rise agian. and also keep in mind gas miliage...
07-13-2006, 01:04 PM
#15
luvs redheads!
they are just making cars safer. Accidents probably are the same or going up?/ but deaths are declining.(forgot what the actual data was pointing at)
I just love Illiniois 55mph on the freeways with people doing 80+ in a fricken geo or huge SUV that is swaying in the wind.
fast lane=80
middle two lanes-70
slow lane or merge-60
I just love Illiniois 55mph on the freeways with people doing 80+ in a fricken geo or huge SUV that is swaying in the wind.
fast lane=80
middle two lanes-70
slow lane or merge-60
07-13-2006, 03:18 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by fsttyms1
Its amazing deaths have gone down cause to me it seems drivers are getting DUMBER on the HWYs
And that commentary lends itself to Maximized's post regarding advances in the safety engineering of cars.Many auto makers have gone to great legnths to dummy-proof their vehicles. I attended a Mercedes Benz M-Class rally last year and drove the ML350 and ML500 fairly hard on an autox-type setup. No matter how hard I tried to upset the balance, the electronics (i.e.: ESP, DSR, 4-ETS+, etc,...) prevented any loss of control. (read: not a good drift car.
)
07-13-2006, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Maximized
I think most of it has to do with the fact that cars are much safer and better engineered in regards to the suspension, brakes, and tires. Drive a 1995 Ford Tauras and compare it to a 2005 Ford Fusion or 500. The difference in the structure and suspsension is night and day.
To a certain extent of course.
07-13-2006, 04:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Sly Raskal
Regardless of how advanced a car is or how potentially safe it may be, it's only as safe as it's driver makes it.
To a certain extent of course.
To a certain extent of course.
07-15-2006, 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by xxy1xx
I also remember reading some where that when you drive faster under normal condition (when you're not drunk or stoned or whatever) that you actually become more aware of your surroundings and make better decions. I have to find the article, but I remember it saying that you often check your mirrors more and tend to be more rational. I'm mean I guess it makes sense, when I'm going 80mph I am way more aware as opposed to when I'm going like 50mph. At slower speeds I tend to fiddle with my cars electronics as I assume most people do.
not sure what the limit should/could be raised to, but 70MPH seems reasonable to me...and 75MPH on the interstate. the limiting factors are not just the drivers and technology...but also properly maintained vehicles for those speeds. the half rusted out Geo that you see flying past you on the interstate going 85 in a 65 will soon be 90+ in a 75 zone...and the car will literally self destruct. probably see more tire blowouts due to wear (and speed ratings on them), etc.
.02
07-16-2006, 03:22 AM
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Originally Posted by swift22
they are just making cars safer. Accidents probably are the same or going up?/ but deaths are declining.(forgot what the actual data was pointing at)
I just love Illiniois 55mph on the freeways with people doing 80+ in a fricken geo or huge SUV that is swaying in the wind.
fast lane=80
middle two lanes-70
slow lane or merge-60
I just love Illiniois 55mph on the freeways with people doing 80+ in a fricken geo or huge SUV that is swaying in the wind.
fast lane=80
middle two lanes-70
slow lane or merge-60
At least it's not Ohio. Everyone in Ohio drives at like 71 mph and they don't understand the concept of the left lane to pass.
I'll always be a Detroit driver at heart, though.
07-16-2006, 03:31 AM
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Siggy's posts proves that repealing the 55 MPH speed limit had no effect on highway fatalities. There is a steady decline in deaths since 1988. If the speed limit had any effect on the number of deaths, there would be a sharp decline on or a year after 1995.
07-18-2006, 03:05 PM
#22
I'm the Firestarter
Originally Posted by xxy1xx
I also remember reading some where that when you drive faster under normal condition (when you're not drunk or stoned or whatever) that you actually become more aware of your surroundings and make better decions. I have to find the article, but I remember it saying that you often check your mirrors more and tend to be more rational. I'm mean I guess it makes sense, when I'm going 80mph I am way more aware as opposed to when I'm going like 50mph. At slower speeds I tend to fiddle with my cars electronics as I assume most people do.
I realized this a while ago. I really wish there was a way that you could enforce a "personal speed limit", because I really don't think everyone's at the same level. Some people feel scared driving at 100 km/h on the highway, others (like myself) need to go at least 130 to keep paying attention. I tend to fall asleep faster and unintentially watch the scenery whenever I drive at the speed limit, but when I go about 30 km/h over, I magically start paying attention.
The other difficult thing about speed limits is that they need to apply not just to sunny summer days but also bad weather, so the driver really needs to use their judgement. Our society's not prepared to enforce flexible rules like that though, there's no way cops could do this fairly.
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