Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[STUDY: Raising national speed limit has resulted in 12,500 deaths ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/study-raising-national-speed-limit-has-resulted-in-12-500-death/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/study-raising-national-speed-limit-has-resulted-in-12-500-death/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/study-raising-national-speed-limit-has-resulted-in-12-500-death/#commentsFiled under: ,



In 1995, highway speed limits increased from a nation-wide 55 mph to 65, 70 or 75 mph, depending on the state, and most Americans were thrilled. The obvious benefit of the change was people could legally get to where they wanted to go, but according to a new study, the downside has been an alarming increase in accidents and deaths.

The University of Illinois School of Public Health studied accidents from 1995 to 2005 to determine the impact on the speed increase on accidents. The study examined deaths and injuries in fatal car crashes on rural interstate highways, urban interstates and non-interstate road, and found the speed increase resulted in 2,545 deaths and an additional 36,582 injuries.

All told, the study found that deaths and injuries increased by 3.2% over the ten-year period, while rural road deaths increased by an alarming 9.1%. Lead researcher Lee S. Friedman says the easy way to solve the increases in deaths and injuries would be to drop the speed limit back to 55 mph, adding "Researchers have demonstrated that lower travel speeds and death tolls usually follow lowering of speed limits, and higher travel speeds and death tolls follow increases in speed limits."

Naturally, Friedman points out that the drop in speed would result in decreased fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gasses as well. Studies show that decreased speeds lead to higher volume capacity on freeways as well, as drivers require less distance between vehicles to safely drive.

Not all agree with Friedman's hypothesis, though. Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine, says that while deaths will decrease with a lower speed limit, it'd also gum up everyone's schedule. Others point out that the bulk of the added deaths happened in areas where limits are 70 and 75 mph, and where the limits were 65, the impact was far less severe.

[Source: US News | Image Source: Ian Waldie/Getty]

STUDY: Raising national speed limit has resulted in 12,500 deaths originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>55 mph55Mph65 mph65Mphcrashcrash deathsCrashDeathsfatalitiessafetyspeed limitSpeedLimitMon, 20 Jul 2009 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Hillary Clinton pushes for reinstatement of national 55 mph limit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/hillary-clinton-pushes-for-reinstatement-of-national-55-mph-limi/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/hillary-clinton-pushes-for-reinstatement-of-national-55-mph-limi/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/hillary-clinton-pushes-for-reinstatement-of-national-55-mph-limi/#commentsFiled under: ,

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, ex-First Lady and likely future presidential candidate threw out an odd legal suggestion to the National Press Club this week: a nationwide return to the double-nickel. According to Clinton, "The 55-mile speed limit really does lower gas usage. And wherever it can be required, and the people will accept it, we ought to do it..."

The announcement comes as a surprise, despite rising gas prices and increased pressure from environmentalists, as it is unlikely to prove popular with voters.Naturally, that's not the only automotive issue on her mind... among other four-wheeled initiatives, Clinton reported that she is pushing for 50 percent of America's gas stations to offer ethanol by 2015, with 100 percent by 2025.

Sammy Hagar was unavailable for comment.

[Sources: The New York Post; Wayne State University via Autolife]

Hillary Clinton pushes for reinstatement of national 55 mph limit originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 May 2006 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>55 mph55Mphdouble-nickelDrive 55Drive55E85EthanolFlexible FuelFlexibleFuelSammy HagarSammyHagarspeed limitSpeedLimitVan HalenVanHalenWed, 24 May 2006 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Texas considering 80 mph speed limit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/south-texas-considering-80-mph-speed-limit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/south-texas-considering-80-mph-speed-limit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/south-texas-considering-80-mph-speed-limit/#commentsSomewhere, Sammy Hagar is smiling. Texas' Transportation Commision will consider raising the speed limit on Interstates 10 and 20 next week. The Texas Department of Transportation's proposal would bump the speed limit to 80 mph to better reflect the rate of speed that traffic presently travels at anyway. A survey of the West Texas roads found that 85 percent of drivers regularly travel at up to 79 mph.

Of course, the proposed change has environmentalists and road safety advocates audibly concerned, but advocates maintain that raising the legal limit will make the roadways safer by encouraging a more universal pace.

What do you think? Sound off in 'Comments.'

[Sources: Associated Press via Houston Chronicle; Motomania; Lyricsbox]

Texas considering 80 mph speed limit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 May 2006 07:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>55 mph55Mph80 mph80MphD.O.T.double-nickelFuel EconomyFuelEconomyI can't Drive 55I-10I-20ICan'tDrive55Interstate 10Interstate 20Interstate10Interstate20posted limitPostedLimitroad safetyRoadSafetySafety AdvocatesSafetyAdvocatesSammy HagarSammyHagarSpeed LimitSpeedLimitTexas Department of TransportationTexasDepartmentOfTransportationTransportation CommissionTransportationCommissionVan HalenVanHalenWest TexasWestTexasTue, 16 May 2006 07:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Should consumers brace for a return to the double-nickel?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/should-consumers-brace-for-a-return-to-the-double-nickel/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/should-consumers-brace-for-a-return-to-the-double-nickel/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/04/should-consumers-brace-for-a-return-to-the-double-nickel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Spurred by high fuel prices, New Jersey governor Jon Corzine has introduced a plan to decrease fuel prices that would bring back the 55 MPH speed limit. OK, so it's only a proposal, and it's only one state, but pundits suggest that something like this could spread like wildfire in today's current tinder-like political climate. (As evidence of how weird everything tends to get when prices at the pump jump up, note that Republicans are suggesting oil companies pay a windfall tax to support a $100 fuel rebate).

As The Auto Prophet points out, fuel prices haven't really resulted in people driving under the current speed limit, so such a move would seem to make little sense from a practical standpoint. Of course, cognitive reasoning rarely gets in the way of a successful career in politics, though.

Sammy Hagar could not be reached for comment.

[Source: The Daily Record]

Should consumers brace for a return to the double-nickel? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 May 2006 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>55 mph55MphCannonballdouble nickelfuel pricesFuelPricesgas taxJon CorzoneJonCorzoneSammy HagarSammyHagarspeed limitspeed limitsSpeedLimitThu, 04 May 2006 13:03:00 EST