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Wouldn't rush hour be safer since the average speed is much lower?

• throwaway173738 1y ago
  The increased traffic density changes people’s behavior in a really significant way.
• CWuestefeld 1y ago
  No. The trope that faster speeds are more dangerous is at least misleading, and possibly outright false. It's certainly true that a given accident would be more severe if speeds are higher. That's just physics. However, in at least some circumstances, accidents are more likely to occur at slower speeds. In your example, rush hour has both more accidents and slower speeds. But also, there's a well-documented effect of a "risk thermostat", where people tend to balance risk such that they exhibit less care when other things would be making things safer. Thus, when speeds are slower, people perceive greater safety and are (maybe subconsciously) more willing to engage in offsetting risks such as playing with their phones or just daydreaming, just because they can. The result is that slower speeds can lead to a greater quantity of accidents (even if those accidents are of lower severity because they were slower). What remains to be proven is how those two effects offset each other. It's not clear whether the "greater severity" or "more accidents" effect dominates the overall picture.
• analog31 1y ago
  I wonder if reaction time is a factor. Driving in congested traffic, I've noticed that it's difficult or even impossible to maintain what we were all taught was a safe following distance. As a result, the drivers are not in complete control of their cars. For instance if someone stops suddenly in front of them, they crash.