🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1994Jan17.203539.23473@alw.nih.gov> pruss@helix.nih.gov (dmitry pruss) writes:
>Most probably there're two abundant sorts of the incompenent drivers: the
>Scared Incompetent Drivers and the Brave Incompetent Drivers. The first
>group knows about 55 and drives 45. It _is_ dangerous, isn't it.
>The second, more abundant group knows about 55 but never ever got fined, so
>they go 75.
>
>Apparently, both of them drive at a far-from-average speed, so the
>first-level conclusion is that legalizing an average speeed won't affect
>the things.

	The Fair Speed Limit Act proposes setting limits at the 85th
percentile speed, that being the speed that 85 percent of the drivers do not
exceed.  It so happens that the fewest accidents occur at the 85th percentile
speed (source:  NHTSA).

>Alas, there's always a chance that the brave idiots will keep making 15+
>miles above the limit, whatever is the limit...

	Although that's true, the _average_ speeds only rose 3 mph on roads
upon which the speed limit was increased from 55mph to 65mph (source:  NHTSA).
Further, although fatalities increased on those roads, total fatalities
decreased (NHTSA).  This can be explained by more people using the roads with
the faster speed limit, which removes traffic from backroads and busy
thoroughfares and places that traffic onto limited-access highways, which are
statistically safer than all other roads.

	At any rate, since most people do not drive 55mph anyway, speed limits
are not a reliable source for causation of accidents.

	Remember, speed thrills.

Later,
-- 
Chris BeHanna  DoD# 114  KotSTA   Ed Green         1975 CB360T - Baby Bike
behanna@syl.nj.nec.com            Fan Club #004    1991 ZX-11 - needs a name
kore ha en-ii-shi no iken dewa arimasen.           1973 RD350A
I was raised by a pack of wild corn dogs.          1987 EX500 - the RaceBike