The report estimates the increase in the number of motor vehicle accidents, injuries and fatalities that would result from an increase in the national speed limit to 60 mph. The report makes use of available travel and accident statistics, adopts previously identified relationships between travel speeds and accidents, and relies on a stated set of assumptions. The major conclusion of the report is that raising the speed limit to 60 mph will result in an increase of approximately 3500 fatalities per year, thus offsetting most of the safety benefits experienced under the 55 mph speed limit. The report provides estimates for the year 1977, which was selected solely for the purpose of exercising the model. However, the same model can be utilised in a similar fashion to arrive at estimates for any future year for which both traffic and safety conditions can be forecasted. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting