Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!ixn5c!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece From: preece@uicsl.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: re: scott preece on 55mph - (nf) Message-ID: <2303@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 23-Jun-83 23:00:06 EDT Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.2303 Posted: Thu Jun 23 23:00:06 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 28-Jun-83 10:13:13 EDT Lines: 45 #R:utcsstat:-70700:uicsl:4300034:000:1861 uicsl!preece Jun 23 08:55:00 1983 I concede that hitting a fixed object at 55mph is as likely to be fatal (or very nearly so) as hitting that object at 70mph. But: At 55mph the driver has significantly more time to react before hitting that object. At 55mph the driver only has to lose 20mph to get down to non-fatal speeds, instead of having to lose 35mph. At 55mph the car is less likely to have sufficient energy to roll. At 55mph a mechanical failure is less likely to cause disaster. But the most important consideration is that if people are really constrained to 55mph the innocent driver has significantly more time to observe and avoid accidents in progress. Defensive driving demands that you have time to defend yourself. To be perfectly honest, I wish the limit were 75. I live in arguably the most boring part of the country and I frequently drive to Chicago, which is essentially 150 flat miles without having to turn the car. But my rational side insists that I'm safer because of the lower limit and that I should be willing to trade a few minutes for even a modest reduction in the risk to my family. I guess that's the difference between self interest and enlightened self interest. If it were put to a vote I would vote for 55mph, but there have been many hours I wished wistfully for the days when 5 over the limit meant 75 instead of 60. As for statistics and speed-versus-deaths curves, I haven't seen anything from either side that really convinced me. Recall that average car size has been declining and economic conditions have been changing peoples' driving habits spasmodically. So I come down on the position that I know of nothing supporting the idea that 75mph is safer and many things (some listed above) supporting the idea that 55mph is safer. Not a lot safer, but not a lot slower, either. I can live with it. scott preece pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece