Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!yale-com!leichter From: leichter@yale-com.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: 55mph aint the answer Message-ID: <1625@yale-com.UUCP> Date: Thu, 16-Jun-83 12:31:03 EDT Article-I.D.: yale-com.1625 Posted: Thu Jun 16 12:31:03 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Jun-83 00:13:48 EDT Lines: 25 Some statistics to keep in mind when talking about safety and 55mph: In half of all fatal accidents, at least one driver has been drinking. (Since drunks very often drive more slowly than usual, this indicates that speed as such is less likely to be the factor.) As far as I know, no one has analogous statistics for non-fatal accidents or for mind-altering substances other than alcohol; on the latter, however, Cali- fornia did some sort of a study and found a lot of "high" drivers. A few years ago, various insurance agencies released figures on "causative fac- tors" for accidents. I wish I had saved the newspaper articles involved since this keeps coming up, but to the best of my memory, the top three factors found, in order, were: driving under the influence; tailgating; and driving too fast for existing conditions (but within the legal limit). Speeding (above the legal limit but objectively safe) was way down - something like eighth, and the number of accidents per cause dropped off rapidly after the top 3 anyway. When was the last time you saw anyone get a ticket for tailgating? (I under- stand this is known to happen in California; in 12 years of driving, mainly on the East coast, I have never seen this happen.) The 55mph limit was introduced to save gas, not lives. LEGAL speed limits are enforced because, of all traffic violations on the highways, they are among the easiest to catch. -- Jerry decvax!yale-comix!leichter leichter@yale