DID THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT SAVE LIVES?

This study looks at the statewide consequences of raising the speed limit to 65 mph on sections of the rural interstate highway system, treating highways and enforcement as a total system. Contrary to the conclusion of local-effect studies, this study finds that the 65 mph speed limit reduced the statewide fatality rate by 3.4 - 5.1%, compared to those states that did not raise their speed limit. Three reasons are offered to explain why the new speed limit lowered the fatality rate: (1) Drivers may have switched to safer roads; (2) highway patrols may have shifted resources to activities with more safety payoff; and (3) the speed variance among cars may have declined -- it might have declined on the interstates as law-abiding drivers caught up with the speeders, and it might have declined on other highways as their speeders switched to the interstates. The evidence indicates that events 1 and 2 did occur; there is no evidence for event 3. Future research should address the disentangling of the relative contribution of these three factors.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Irvine

  Department of Economics, 3151 Social Science Plaza
  Irvine, CA  United States  92697
• Authors:
  • Lave, C
  • Elias, P
• Publication Date: 1992-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 34 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 65 mph speed limit; Fatalities; Future; Impact studies; Interstate highways; Reduction (Chemistry); Research; Rural highways; States; Traffic law enforcement
• Uncontrolled Terms: Future research
• Old TRIS Terms: Reduction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00625568
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 21 1993 12:00AM