I note the summary statement that highway fatalities declined from 1973 to 1974 and that they attributed this to the national 55MPH speed limit. What they ignore is that that 55MPH speed limit was later rescinded and that highway fatalities CONTINUED TO DECLINE as measured by fatalities per 100,000 miles driven. Much of the decline in fatalities could thus be attributable to better tires, better brakes, better overall vehicle design, not the speed limits.
Older data (again from the 50s) indicated that, on rural roads, one could travel 3 TIMES FARTHER at 60MPH than at 35MPH before a fatal accident. Speed and kinetic energy are not the sole factors here, certainly.
Apologies, kenchan! I realize that data can get tiresome. Opinions are so much more fun, even if blatantly false.
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