🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <2hcbl1$7kd@clarknet.clark.net>,
Jonathan Hazzard <thonhazz@clark.net> wrote:
>I heard it quoted on talk radio recently that automobile injuries and 
>accidents have risen on the roads that now carry the 65 mph speed limit 
>to levels seen prior to 1974's 55 mph law.  This leads one to believe 
>there is a cause and effect relationship between speed and accidents.  

Yes, I have heard that this is true on SOME roads, but the reason is
increased traffic.  It was found that people were taking the 65 mph
roads instead of other alternatives, raising the traffic, thus leading
to more accidents.  In fact, on many roads that went to 65 mph, average
speeds have not risen at all!  Without taking increased traffic flow
and actual average speeds (not to mention many other factors) into account,
this statistic cannot be used to show that 65 mph speed limits are more
dangerous.

>We need higher speed limits, many of the cars on the road today are 
>competent at higher speeds, and the interstates were built to accomadate 
>1970's technology vehicles at 70 mph.  The problem is the poor to 
>non-existent education required to obtain a license.  By knowing the 
>consequences of dangerous driving and by properly training people to 
>MERGE (my little pet peave) I think we could safely set speed limits at 65+.

Yes, incompetent drivers _are_ a problem, but I don't see that as a major
barrier to reasonable speed limits.

John