Do Higher Speed Limits Lead to More Severe Accidents?

by | Jun 7, 2017 | Car Accidents | 0 comments

Speed limits have been the subject of fierce debate as of recent. Many officials seek to find a balance between the need for traffic flow and commuter safety. Officials also need to make sure that traffic speed isn’t set so low that no one obeys them. At the same time, they want to avoid making it so high that it increases injuries and even leads to deaths. The question has long been how high the speed limit can be to strike this important balance. A recent report helps shed some light on this subject.

Increasing the Speed Limit

It’s unsurprising that scientists, engineers, and others involved in the transportation industry have examined this issue closely. They want to know what a difference even a small increase in the speed limit can create. A recent study now helps add to the data about changes in the speed limit. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that a five percent increase in the speed limit led to a shocking eight percent increase in the number of fatalities on interstates and freeways. In addition, they also found that increasing the speed limit even by this much also led to a four percent increase in the number of fatalities on other roads.

Thousands of Additional Traffic Fatalities

The study also concluded that there are roughly thirty-three thousand more deaths during the years from 1995 to 2013 then there should have been had the speed limits been lower. In a single year, 2013, they found there were nearly a thousand more dead people than might have otherwise been expected. The increase was so great that it was enough to mitigate the effects from new car safety measures such as air bags. In short, just a minor increase in the legal speed limit led to massive numbers of deaths that might have otherwise been avoided.

New Increases in Michigan Speed Limits

Despite the problems with increasing the speed limits, officials have chosen to put new laws in place in Michigan as of January 5th, 2017. The new laws up the speed limits on many Michigan roads. Drivers can go up to 75 miles per hour on freeways. They can go up to 65 miles per hour on highways. Trucks can also go as fast as 65 miles per hour on the highways and freeways. School buses can also go up to 65 miles per hour as well.

These increased speed limits have the propensity of repeating the speeding accident death phenomenon that occurred in 2013. We urge that all drivers commute with caution, but we are aware that car accidents can happen in even the safest conditions. If you or someone you know is injured in a car accident, acquire the legal representation of a car accident attorney from Michigan Legal Center. Our experienced attorneys will be with you every step of the way as they seek maximum compensation for your losses. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Detroit, MI – Multi-Vehicle Wreck w/Injuries on M-5 at I-696

Detroit, MI (November 26, 2023) - After an accident early on Sunday evening, November 26, a local Detroit roadway was nearly completely closed. Multiple right lanes, along with the freeway ramp, of eastbound Michigan Highway 5 at the I-696 exit were closed due to the...

St. Clair Co, MI – Injury-Causing Collision on 31 Mile Rd at Wadhams

St. Clair County, MI (November 26, 2023) - On Sunday afternoon, November 26, a three-vehicle crash resulted in at least one injury at the scene and closed down a local highway, according to local authorities. Several drivers were involved in a collision that shut down...

Detroit, MI – I-75 Site of Injury Car Accident at Adams Rd

Detroit, MI (November 26, 2023) - An accident involving at least two drivers happened on a local highway on Sunday, November 26, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation, resulting in a handful of potential victim injuries. At about 5:35 p.m., EMTs,...

Warren, MI – Injuries Reported in House Fire on 14 Mile Rd

Warren, MI (November 26, 2023) - According to officials with the Detroit Fire Department, a handful of victims were rescued from a home fire that occurred on Sunday, November 26. A house on 14 Mile Road near the Schoenherr Freeway in Warren caught fire at around 5:00...

Detroit, MI – Driver Arrested After Injury Wreck on I-96 at Telegraph

Detroit, MI (November 26, 2023) - Police say that an intoxicated driver caused a rear-end collision on I-96 early Sunday morning, and a man from Southfield is now in custody. Just before 3:30 a.m. in the morning, the Michigan State Police fielded several reports of an...

Madison Heights, MI – Woman Dies in Head-on Crash on 14 Mile Rd

Madison Heights, MI (November 26, 2023) - Late Saturday afternoon in Madison Heights, a woman in her 70s lost her life in a head-on collision. A westbound motorist crossed the centerline and collided with a vehicle driven by a 77-year-old woman, who was traveling east...

Detroit, MI – Three Hospitalized in Hit-and-Run at Schoolcraft & Southfield

Detroit, MI (November 26, 2023) - On Saturday night, a vehicle in Detroit struck three pedestrians, leaving them in serious condition. The incident reportedly took place on the western side of the city, at the intersection of Schoolcraft and the Southfield Freeway, at...

Mason Co, MI – Two Killed in Plane Crash at Mason Co Airport

Mason County, MI (November 26, 2023) - On Sunday morning, just after departure, an aircraft crashed and caught fire, killing two persons. No names were immediately given for the two victims of the collision near Ludington's Mason County Airport. Mason-Oceana 911...

Detroit, MI – Multi-Vehicle Wreck w/Injuries on I-75 After 14 Mile Rd

Detroit, MI (November 25, 2023) - After an accident early on Saturday morning, November 25, a local Detroit roadway was nearly completely closed. Several right lanes of southbound Interstate 75 after the 14 Mile Road exit were closed due to the accident at roughly...

White Lake Twnshp, MI – Gas Explosion, Injuries at Bogie Lake & M-59

White Lake Township, MI (November 25, 2023) - White Lake Township was the scene of a reported gas explosion on Friday night, November 25, and authorities are still looking into the incident. The incident took place near the intersection of Bogie Lake Road and Michigan...