🚀 go-pugleaf

E. Faubion wrote:

>grimrod@mindless.moc (Brandon Sommerville) wrote:
>
>>>Download speedlim.pdf from NHTSA and eat crow.
>
>>It's a big site, where is it?  A search for it returned nothing.
>
>Poor Brandon.   Searches are just too difficult.  Heaven forbid trying
>something simple like "speed limit" where it pops up right in front of
>you.

Ahh, I am cut to the quick.  Surely thy wit will leave me helpless...
but whilst thou art indeed quick to insult thine opponent, thou hast
placed much faith in a false weapon.  On to the battle...

>Now get your milk and a cookie and try this:
>
>http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa/pdf/speedlim.pdf

Very interesting, Earl.  I would assume someone as intelligent as you
would realize that looking at raw fatality numbers is absolutely
meaningless.  Let me ask you a little question:

If 1,000 people drive a total of 10,000 miles down a road and 5 are
involved in fatal accidents one year, and the next year 10,000 people
move down the same road traveling a total of 100,000 miles but this
time 10 are involved in fatal accidents, is the road twice as
dangerous?  According to the report it would be.

But regardless of my opinion (what with me being a moron and all),
from the report itself:

"Due to the current unavailability of full vehicle miles traveled
(VMT) and other data, it is not known how increased travel on higher
speed roads, shifts in travel, and other traffic safety factors,
(e.g., changes in alcohol involvement, belt use) or various economic
factors (e.g., fuel consumption, roadway maintenance, travel time) may
have contributed to an estimated increase in Interstate fatalities and
economic costs."

"Lastly, this study does not account for possible changes in the
expected vehicle miles of travel patterns due to the unavailability of
these exposure data at this time."

To put this in words even you can understand, the study is early and
doesn't take into account some pretty major factors and even admits
such.  But all you want to see is that big number that is presented.
Makes a great sound bite, doesn't it?  Before anything conclusive can
be drawn from the increase in actual fatalities, it needs to be
compared to the number of VMT.

Now I'll enjoy my milk and cookie, it leads to a far more pleasant
disposition than that whine, er, wine you keep about you...
-- 
Brandon

"Spooooooooooonnnnn!"