WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT

This article looks at the decline in highway fatalities in the 1980's and suggests some possible reasons for this. Admitting that no one is quite sure just exactly why the highway death toll has gone down, the following theories are offered as playing a contributing role: cars are safer; the 55 mph speed limit; highway improvements; the decline in the number of young drivers; higher gasoline prices along with a depressed economy; a behavioral change in drinking and driving patterns; passive safety features on newer cars; and greater public awareness of highway safety as an issue, an example being the passage of laws requiring safety belt utilization.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02790270
• Corporate Authors:

  American Automobile Association

  8111 Gatehouse Road
  Falls Church, VA  United States  22047
• Authors:
  • Welsbacher, A
• Publication Date: 1985-3

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 8-9
• Serial:
  • AAA World
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: AAA Potomac
  • ISSN: 0279-0270

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 55 mph speed limit; Adolescents; Awareness; Behavior; Costs; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Economic factors; Fatalities; Fuels; Highway safety; Highways; Improvements; Laws; Manual safety belts; Passive restraint systems; Safety; Safety equipment; Teenage drivers; Utilization; Vehicle safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fuel costs; Safety features
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Finance; Highways; Law; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450225
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 601
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM