The speed that vehicle maintain exerts an influence on practically all the characteristics, effects and the consequences of mobility. The most obvious consequence is that a higher speed leads to shorter travelling times and besides that enables a motorist to cover greater distances in one day. This study is confined to passenger car traffic. The speed level of passenger cars influence the volume of emissions that burden the environment, and it influences fuel consumption, congestion, noise pollution and the number of seriousness of accidents. Apart from that, two other (contrasting) indirect effects occur. On the one hand, raising the speed limit will lead to greater mobility (measured in the total of kilometres travelled). On the other hand, the extra costs per kilometre travelled (because of an increase in fuel consumption) will then result in a decrease in the total of kilometres travelled. The extent of all these effects and their net results form the subject of this research. (A)
Abstract