RESEARCH NOTE. CONSEQUENCES OF RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT

Two methods were used to assess the potential impact of increased speed limits on highway fatalities. These were: (a) a method used by National Safety Council (NSC) in estimating the causes of decreased motor vehicles in the 1970s and (b) a method used by the National Research Council, Transportation Research Board in reporting on 10 years of experience with the 55 mph speed limit. Applying the NSC method to 1984 fatality data resulted in estimated increases of 200 to 700 deaths per year on rural interstates depending on how much the speed limit was raised. Using the TRB method resulted in estimated increases of 300 to 450 deaths per year if each state returned to pre-1974 speed limits.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1800052
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Maxwell House, Fairview Park
  Elmsford, NY  United States  10523
• Authors:
  • Hoskins, A F
• Publication Date: 1986

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 179-182
• Serial:
  • Journal of Safety Research
  • Volume: 17
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-4375
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00224375

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 55 mph speed limit; Fatalities; Highway safety; Impact studies; Measures of effectiveness; Prevention; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00495896
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 686
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM