The Effect of Speed Limits on Road Traffic Accidents

In American society today, there are numerous laws designed to protect all citizens. One such law is having a speed limit. This requires motorists to drive reasonably and consider the conditions and potential hazards, regardless of what the speed limit signs say. As the automobile demands grew, the streets and highways expanded throughout the US, lawmakers created speed limits. On thee another hand, some citizens believe with modern day road materials and current automotive technologies, cars can safely exceed the legal limits set on almost every road in the United States. But, endless amount of studies and researches proves that having a speed limit can save lives, not to mention money.

Speeding takes a huge role in many teen crashes that result in fatalities. Going faster than the posted speed limit on a road, means that you are increasing your chances of crashing exponentially. In 2012, 21 % of serious teen crashes were a direct result of going too fast for the road. By going over the speed limit you are not only going too fast for the given roads conditions but you are also increasing the amount of time you will need to stop your vehicle in the event of an obstacle in the road.

Everyday we drive to work, your house, the store, the gas station, we drive everywhere. When you're driving you probably aren't thinking going over five to ten miles will hurt anybody, but 31% of car accidents happen due to someone is speeding. (www.statisticbrain.com). So are speed limit's really necessary? Of course they are, those speed limits keep that other 69% of the 31% safe from server injuries and death, and if you get caught speeding that could cause you to get tickets.

Over recent decades, driving has almost become a necessity to many young adults since some jobs require a farther commute and colleges are not located in every town. Driving is a privilege and many people neglect this privilege by developing dangerous driving habits. Some of these include speeding, distracted driving, road rage and driving under the influence. In today's age people live a very fast paced, rushed lifestyle. Speeding is becoming a problem because people are impatient. Speeding decreases your reaction time for avoiding collisions and is becoming a profitable scheme for law enforcement through speed traps. I speed all the time and realize the dangers of doing so. I have not been in a collision yet or been pulled over by a police officer because they could not keep

I want to lay my argument out about speeding limit limitations. I ‘am not against limiting the speeds of roads nor highways. In fact I think that the city, government, or county should have to be more cautious of the speed limits they assign to each and every road. They should consider the safety of people. I feel strongly that the roads would be a bit more safer with some speed limitation I’ll explain why.

The argument that Forestville should reverse a decision it made six months ago to raise its speed limit by 10MPH due to a 15% rise in accidents because accidents in Elmsford, a neighboring region, declined slightly, is inconclusive. A base line study of traffic pattern disruptions and speed variances in Forestville and Elmsford comparing demographic data, location, rate, and type of accidents for more than six months might determine significant risk factors. Federal studies suggest that accidents rise if speed limits are raised on highways by as much as 5% for each 4 MPH but on moderate speed limit roads, no such relationship exists. Other studies show accidents decrease with a rise in speed limit since artificially low limits also cause

Running late has always been a problem for people, whether it is for work or a doctor’s appointment, but will the benefit of arriving to a destination two or three minutes faster be worth the number of lives that could be killed or seriously injured? Of course not. The proposed increase of the speed limit in the state of Michigan going from 70 to 80 MPH or in some cases going from 55 to 80 MPH has brought up discussions which experts say increasing the speed limit will only cause more accidents. Reporter Roop Raj uses a policy statement to argue that the speed limit should not be increased to 80 MPH.

Speeding is a common habit that happens around the world every day. The dangers of speeding are certainly well known to most drivers, either by getting a ticket for speeding from law enforcement, being part of an accident due to reckless driving or even having a loved one be a victim of excessive speeding (Upton). Speeding because one is in a rush, trying to show off to friends, or just do not think the law applies to you, are never the answers for speeding. Accidents can easily result in hitting somebody or losing control of your vehicle from speeding. Speed limits are made to keep the community safe, making the speed limit lower in populated towns, while a little higher on back roads, and highways. School zone’s have a vastly low speed limit to insure everyone is being extra cautious for children are everyone around. Even with getting away with speeding, it is still breaking the law while putting others in great danger.

Great analysis! I agree with your perspective about maintaining 55 miles per hour speed limit and how decreasing or increasing it impacts the value and quality of life. How does the limitation of speed on the high way or access roads compare to health care and the value of life.? These two issues are extremely different in theory but have the same commonality of value and preservation of human life.

Have you ever been driving and wondered if the speed limit should be adjusted? What about if there should even be speed limits, or if society should be able to drive at whatever speed they would like? In a lot of cases I am sure that someone, if not everyone has had this thought go through their head at least once. Speed limits are a given mile per hour you are allowed by law to travel on a road without being penalized by law enforcement. In some areas the speed limit seems to be too low, while in others we question why it is that fast of a speed.

Insurance companies, police agencies, state transportation departments, and national safety organizations would have us believe that speed limits are a critical

Keep in mind that the interstate speed limits average at least 60mph and the basic cars from the year 2000 – 2015 can go up to 110 mph why is there a need for a speed limit. If the driver in front of you hits the brake then you can switch lanes and speed back up, or slow down behind that vehicle. Interstates have a lot of crashes due to sleeping at the wheel, not paying attention, and drunk driving. None usually have to do with exceeding speed limits and if they do it is because the driver isn’t comfortable with the speed he is driving

It can be very irritating when you are driving along perfectly safely and inside in the speed limits and you witness a terrible or bad behaviour by different drivers. Some of the time they go very slowly and weave everywhere, while in different circumstances they sit on your tail and overtake you in very dangerous conditions. Add to this the general population who plainly should not drive or the kid racer types of people who have no care or thought.

​Did you know that in two thousand fourteen there were five thousand nine hundred and thirty three speed related accidents in the state of Kansas of which eighty were fatal?

Low gas prices tend to increase the distance travelled by motor vehicles and therefore, increase the likelihood of road accidents. Higher gas prices will ease congestion on the road and will reduce the demand in driving a motorized vehicle. This will therefore reduce the probability of an accident from occurring. If gas prices are low, the number of road accidents have shown to increase in four-wheeled vehicles. Meanwhile, if gas prices are high, the number of road accidents are likely to decrease. Therefore, we can see an inverse relationship between gas prices and four-wheeled motor vehicles. I plan to further explain the effect that these prices have on road accidents.