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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!burl!clyde!watmath!watnot!watrose!tohaapanen
From: tohaapanen@watrose.UUCP (Tom Haapanen)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 55MPH-save gas?
Message-ID: <7838@watrose.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 23-Feb-86 20:35:55 EST
Article-I.D.: watrose.7838
Posted: Sun Feb 23 20:35:55 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 06:10:38 EST
References: <424@cubsvax.UUCP> <597@mhuxl.UUCP>
Reply-To: tohaapanen@watrose.UUCP (Tom Haapanen)
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 35
Summary: 

In article <597@mhuxl.UUCP> smh@mhuxl.UUCP (henning) writes:
>
>...  After the 55 mph limit was imposed, the number of highway
>deaths droped from 55,000 per year to 46,000 per year.  Therefore,
>the limit which was put in place to help shorten the lines at the
>gas pumps also reduced the lines at the mortuaries.

(I can't believe I'm actually posting an article on 55 mph!)

55,000 highway deaths in what year?
46,000 highway deaths in what year?

The two numbers don't mean anything by themselves without any
reference to years.  Further, it is ridiculous to base conclusions on
two data points.  How about producing highway death stats from 1964 to
1984, together with the number of cars and number of highway miles
driven.

OK, let's make the assumption that highway deaths have declined
significantly since 1974.  Does this mean that 55 mph saves lives?
NO!!!  The decrease could just as well result from better driver
education, new bumper standards, higher seatbelt usage, safer cars
(consider how much better brakes today's cars have) or a number of
other factors.

The main effect of the 55 mph limit is to generate revenue through
speeding tickets.


				   \tom haapanen
				   watmath!watrose!haapanen
I'm all lost in the Supermarket
I can no longer shop happily
I came in here for that special offer
Guaranteed personality				 (c) The Clash, 1979