AbstractIn 1987, most states raised the speed limit from 55 to 65 mph on portions of their rural interstate highways. There was intense debate about the increase, and numerous evaluations were conducted afterwards. These evaluations share a common problem: they only measure the local effects of the change. But the change must be judged by its system-wide effects. In particular, the new 65 mph limit allowed the state highway patrols to shift their resources from speed enforcement on the interstates to other safety activities and other highways—a shift many highway patrol chiefs had argued for. If the chiefs were correct, the new allocation of patrol resources should lead to a reduction in statewide fatality rates. Similarly, the chance to drive faster on the interstates should attract drivers away from other, more dangerous roads, again generating system-wide consequences. This study measures these changes and obtains surprising results. We find that the 65 mph limit reduced statewide fatality rates by 3.4% to 5.1%, holding constant the effects of long-term trend, driving exposure, seat belt laws, and economic factors.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Did the 65 mph speed limit save lives?


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1993-04-15


    Size :

    14 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Did the 65 mph speed limit save lives?

    Lave, Charles | Online Contents | 1994



    Discussion of "Did the 65 mph speed limit save lives?"

    Griffith, Michael S. | Online Contents | 1995


    Does the 80 km/h speed limit save lives in France?

    Carnis, Laurent / Garcia, Cédric | Elsevier | 2023


    High-speed Video helps save lives

    Faurecia,FR | Automotive engineering | 2003