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Speed limit hikes linked to higher death rate

NEW YORK, Aug 11 (Reuters) -- The recent increase in highway speed
limits to 65 and 75 miles per hour in some states translates into an
increase in traffic fatalities, a study suggests.

``A preliminary assessment indicated that states with the higher speed
limits experienced a 9% increase in interstate fatalities, or 350 more
deaths, than historical trends predicted,'' according to a report in the
August issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine. The cost of those
additional fatalities added up to about $820 million in 1996.

The National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL), enacted in the 1970s to
conserve oil by setting highway speed limits at 55 mph, was overturned
by new legislation at the end of 1995. According to a report to Congress
compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 11 states quickly moved
to increase their speed limits on certain highways, 21 gradually
increased speed limits over a matter of months, and 19 states made no
changes.

Those states that immediately increased their speed limit had the most
pronounced increase in traffic fatalities, while there was no
statistically meaningful increase in the other states, according to the
report.

Fatalities in California rose by 16%, including an 8% drop in fatalities
on roads where the speed limit remained the same, and an increase of 22%
on 65 mph highways and 12% on those highways with an increase to 70 mph.

``But because of the limited data, each state including California,
considered its findings preliminary or inconclusive,'' according to the
report. The states lacked data on the accidents, such as the roadway
type or alcohol involvement.

The report's findings are ``no surprise'' for emergency room doctors,
according to a commentary by Dr. B. Tilman Jolly, of the George
Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC.

``Increases in speed limits are associated with increases in traffic
deaths,'' Jolly writes. While the data is preliminary, ''(at) the very
least, further study is warranted.''

SOURCE: Annals of Emergency Medicine 1998;32:266-268.

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<HTML>
<B><FONT SIZE=+1>Speed limit hikes linked to higher death rate</FONT></B>

<P>NEW YORK, Aug 11 (Reuters) -- The recent increase in highway speed limits
to 65 and 75 miles per hour in some states translates into an increase
in traffic fatalities, a study suggests.

<P>``A preliminary assessment indicated that states with the higher speed
limits experienced a 9% increase in interstate fatalities, or 350 more
deaths, than historical trends predicted,'' according to a report in the
August issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine. The cost of those additional
fatalities added up to about $820 million in 1996.

<P>The National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL), enacted in the 1970s to conserve
oil by setting highway speed limits at 55 mph, was overturned by new legislation
at the end of 1995. According to a report to Congress compiled by the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), 11 states quickly moved to increase their speed limits on certain
highways, 21 gradually increased speed limits over a matter of months,
and 19 states made no changes.

<P>Those states that immediately increased their speed limit had the most
pronounced increase in traffic fatalities, while there was no statistically
meaningful increase in the other states, according to the report.

<P>Fatalities in California rose by 16%, including an 8% drop in fatalities
on roads where the speed limit remained the same, and an increase of 22%
on 65 mph highways and 12% on those highways with an increase to 70 mph.

<P>``But because of the limited data, each state including California,
considered its findings preliminary or inconclusive,'' according to the
report. The states lacked data on the accidents, such as the roadway type
or alcohol involvement.

<P>The report's findings are ``no surprise'' for emergency room doctors,
according to a commentary by Dr. B. Tilman Jolly, of the George Washington
University Medical Center in Washington, DC.

<P>``Increases in speed limits are associated with increases in traffic
deaths,'' Jolly writes. While the data is preliminary, ''(at) the very
least, further study is warranted.''

<P>SOURCE: Annals of Emergency Medicine 1998;32:266-268.</HTML>

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