vision2020
Another Tragedy on Highway 95
That is not the only reason that states gave up the 55 m.p.h. speed limit.
The Feds withheld highway funds for each state until they all
complied. The impacts were severe for certain states. I doubt
that increasing speed limits led to a noticeable reduction in
accidents which lead to states adopting higher speed limits. All
the statitics I have seen have shown higher speed limits equals
greater accidents. That is why Montana was forced to lower the
reasonable and prudent speed limit, an above average rate of
accidents.
Keith Russell
Date forwarded: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 10:29:28 -0800 (PST)
Date sent: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 10:31:28 -0800
From: Duncan Palmatier <dpalm@earthlink.net>
To: G M <herecomestheflood@yahoo.com>
Copies to: Dan Schmidt <schmidt6@turbonet.com>, david sarff <davesway@hotmail.com>,
Vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: Re: Another Tragedy on Highway 95
Forwarded by: vision2020@moscow.com
> Although it may be counter intuitive, setting speed limits to match the
> speeds at which motorists actually travel establishes the safest
> condition, under most circumstances. Studies show that dangerous
> conditions are created when motorists' speeds vary; that is, some are
> going 55 mph and others 70 mph. It has been found to be safer to have
> everyone travelling at near the same speed, even if it is a higher
> speed. This is an explanation for the decrease in accidents and
> fatalities after the national 55 mph speed limit was abolished. Thus,
> even states that strongly favored the 55 mph limit did away with it,
> since it made their roads less safe.
>
> Duncan Palmatier
>
> G M wrote:
>
> > --- Dan Schmidt <schmidt6@Turbonet.com> wrote: (snip)
> > > Dave, I was interested to find out the thinking
> > > behind posting speed limits
> > > on city streets. The city engineer explained that
> > > streets are monitored and
> > > the posted limit is supposed to be what 80% of the
> > > vehicles traveling that
> > > route hit. Unless there is a strong safety issue
> > > that is the method for
> > > city streets.Leadership by consensus.
> > ****************
> >
> > I find this alarming, a bit like the formula used to
> > raise speed limits on our nation's highways - "we're
> > raising them because motorists are driving faster than
> > the current speed limit (i.e. breaking the law)..."
> >
> > Is it really true that speed limits within the city
> > are established based on how fast vehicles are moving
> > as opposed to what a safe speed would be? And what
> > consitutes a "strong" safety issue?
> >
> > Greg Meyer
> >
> > =====
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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> > Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com
>
>
>
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