Thousands and thousands of vehicles are totaled every year due to traffic accidents. What is worse in these incidents are the many lives of innocent victims that are claimed. People are also physically injured and, unfortunately for some, killed during these mishaps.
Speeding has been blamed as one of the leading causes of traffic accidents in the United States. Despite the speed limits imposed in various areas, certain drivers could not avoid driving their vehicles as fast as possible for reasons known only to them.
In the US, speed limits have been changed multiple times by Congress, which unfortunately led to a higher number of fatalities rather than the other way around. A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that the move to higher speed limits actually resulted in 12,500 more deaths on US highways during the 10-year period beginning between 1995 and 2005. after Congress lifted government controls on the speed limit it wouldn’t be long term.
One of the lead researchers, Dr. Lee Friedman of the University of Illinois at Chicago, noted that while previous studies covered only good data for two years, his study took the issue deeper by collecting vital figures that spanned 10 years . This new research collected information on traffic fatalities in all US states except Hawaii and Massachusetts, after changes in federal law were made.
It was found that when the National Maximum Speed Law went into effect in 1974, fatalities from motor vehicle accidents fell by 16.4 percent over a one-year period from 1973 to 1974. The speed limit then imposed was 55 mph covering all interstate highways.
On the contrary, because the mortality from accidents increased when Congress implemented new laws that increased and lifted speed controls. There were two instances from 1995 to 2005 when changes were made to the speed limit law. In 1987, Congress passed the Uniform Relocation and Surface Transportation Assistance Act allowing a higher speed limit of 65 mph on rural interstate highways. Eight years later, in 1995, Congress re-passed the National Highways Designation Act which eliminated government speed limits.
The new study found that when speed limits were increased, the number of deaths resulting from traffic accidents also increased by 3.2 percent. Death rates increased 9.1 percent on rural interstates, while the number of fatalities increased 4 percent on urban interstates. Following the federal law change, there were 12,545 more deaths on US highways. The numbers of injured were 36,583 more.
Given these alarming numbers, Dr. Friedman recommended that the federal speed limit is badly needed to save people’s lives. The research team also believed that in addition to preventing deaths in traffic accidents, it can also help reduce carbon emissions and promote the country’s independence in oil production instead of relying on foreign countries.
And with advanced technology now upon us, the team suggested using automated speed cameras that can take photos of speeding vehicles and ticket them immediately when you mail in your ticket.