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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!hogpc!houti!ariel!hou5f!hou5g!jrt
From: jrt@hou5g.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Change the 55 mph law
Message-ID: <432@hou5g.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Jul-84 12:40:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: hou5g.432
Posted: Fri Jul 13 12:40:28 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Jul-84 01:51:45 EDT
References: <3084@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 18


Sorry ron,  
	The biggest effect of lowering the speed limit to 55 was
    NOT decreasining the number of accidents.  Since the laws
    were enacted, there was a small decrease in the number of fatalities
    per mile driven (people argue about why).  There was also a
    marked INCREASE in the number of ACCIDENTS.  This was caused
    by crowding on the highways, longer trips (a six hour trip became
    an eight hour trip), and BOREDOM (at the reduced speeds, you have
    a tendancy to drift and watch the scenery, rather than concentrating
    on driving).

		(** FRODO **) alias hou5g!jrt


    P.S. There were even areas in California, and other congested areas
	where the number of fatalities even ROSE after the lower speed limits
	were enforced(That confused the h**l out of "EXPERTS").