5 ms·
speed definitely increases the severity of crashes, but i'm not convinced that it increases frequency. even so, the #1 factor leading to increased frequency of
by clairity 12y ago
speed definitely increases the severity of crashes, but i'm not convinced that it increases frequency. even so, the #1 factor leading to increased frequency of crashes is distracted driving (sorry, don't have time to look up relevant links). if it exists, the correlation of accidents with speed is likely much weaker than with distractedness.
if we really wanted to reduce motoring accidents, rather than regulating speed, we'd regulate away everything you can do in a car other than drive (radio, food, shaving, makeup, newspapers, etc.). i'd even suggest that driving fast might cause you to be less distracted because of the higher severity of a crash (would be an interesting research topic).
- Theodores 12y agoMaybe we should go back to Cadillac Eldorado 'bullet' style steering wheels (and no seatbelts) which really were as much use as a spike in the middle of a steering wheel.
- seanflyon 12y agoIt would reduce the number of crashes. Its essentially the same argument as your comment's grandparent, that we should make the roads narrower to reduce driving speed.
- tbrownaw 12y agoi'd even suggest that driving fast might cause you to be less distracted because of the higher severity of a crash And because faster reaction times require you to stay more aware. Unfortunately, trying to find where I heard about this just comes back with a bunch of stuff about risk tolerance w.r.t. financial investments.