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From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.auto,net.consumers
Subject: Re: 55mph speed limit
Message-ID: <309@varian.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Apr-85 18:06:12 EST
Article-I.D.: varian.309
Posted: Tue Apr  9 18:06:12 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Apr-85 07:34:45 EST
References: <1545@ut-ngp.UUCP> <215@osiris.UUCP> <1@harvard.ARPA>
Distribution: net.consumers
Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA
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Xref: watmath net.legal:1543 net.auto:6365 net.consumers:2143

>   Actually, the most important factor contributing to
> the saving of lives is the reduction in the spread of speeds.

	Actually, the most important factor in the saving of lives
	is the passage of time.  If you plot highway deaths per thousand
	miles driven for a meaningful period of time you'll see
	a steady decline.  The slope of this decline was not significantly
	effected by the institution of the 55 mph limit.  Safer cars,
	safer roads, better driver education, better DWI enforcement
	all contribute to this figure.  Speed doesn't seem to have
	a very significant effect.


	One of the common ploys of the 55-saves-lives campaigners is
	to say that absolute highway deaths declined immediately upon
	institution of the limit.  This is true.  But why was 55 instituted?
	Because of the alledged "energy crisis".  The price of gas and
	the low availability got a number of drivers off the road
	and that's what lowered the absolute death count.  The deaths
	per thousand miles figure is the only one that makes sense in
	this context.

	It is true that wide variation in speed, not absolute speed, is
	the danger factor on the highway.  THis is the first claim I've
	seen that the spread in speed is any greater now than it used
	to be, however.

						Fred Klink
						Varian