AN EXAMINATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE LOWERED MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT AND FUEL SHORTAGES IN NORTH CAROLINA

Because of the energy crisis of early 1974 and the resulting measures (both voluntary and mandatory) to conserve fuel supplies, there were dramatic changes in both the highway environment and accident scene. This report examines North Carolina data on vehicle mileage, traffic volumes, accident frequencies and severity, crash rates, and driver characteristics in an effort to derive some insight into the nature of the changes that occurred, and to specifically identify those factors that may have had a significant influence on the lower number of fatal accidents. Most of the analyses involve a comparison of data for the first four months of 1973, 1974, and 1975. Where trends have been in effect for several years, certain variables such as overall vehicle mileage and accident rates are examined using techniques from time series analysis.

  • Corporate Authors:

    University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

    Highway Safety Research Center
    Chapel Hill, NC  United States  27599

    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Seila, A F
    • Entsminger, M A
    • Silva, C Z
  • Publication Date: 1977-6-30

Media Info

  • Pagination: 215 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00181920
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
  • Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-HS-803-454 Final Rpt.
  • Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-4-00897
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Oct 31 1979 12:00AM