According to results of a preliminary study released by Yacoub Najjar, associate professor of civil engineering at Kansas State University, there have been no significant increases in the rate of fatalities, severe injuries or crashes since raising speed limits three years ago. I thought we did a good job at setting and stabilizing speeds. Najjar said there has been a modest increase in severe injuries on rural two-lane highways but the results are not conclusive and may change when the 1998 data becomes available. According to Najjar, raising speed limits has resulted in more aware drivers. When you raise the speed limit, you please most people and another ethic kicks in.
People are more cautious.
Prepared by Eric Beikmann.