SPEED KILLS KILL SPEED Evidence from Around the World

Speed Kills, Kill Speed Prepared by Tamar Berman* Center for Injury Prevention Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Pucblic Health and Community Medicine POB Jerusalem *supported by Metuna

INCREASED SPEEDS result in INCREASED FATALITIES everywhere

UNITED STATES ( ) Result: In states with increased speed limit, deaths increased by 15 %, resulting in 450–500 more deaths each year Measure: 24 states increased speed limits on urban and rural inter- states Source: Farmer et al, 1999

UNITED STATES (2003) Result: In states with increased speed limit, deaths increased by 38%, resulting in 780 more deaths Measure: By 2003, most US states increase rural interstate highway speed limit to 75 mph Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2003

ISRAEL Result: Deaths increased by 15% case fatality rates increased by 38% Measure: Speed limit increased from 90 to 100 kph on three interurban highways in 1993 Source: Richter et al., 2004

HONG KONG Result: Fatal and serious crashes increased by 36% All crashes increased by 18% Measure: Speed limit increased from 70 to 80 kph on six urban roads in 1999 Source: Wong et al., 2005

Change in crashes and injuries Change in deaths Average speed increase 15% increase in injuries (interstates) (NHTSA,1998) 15% increase kph (Farmer, 1997) United States, (Farmer et al, 1999) 38% increase2/3 of drivers drives faster than 70 mph United States, (IIHS, 2003) 15% in deathsSpeed increase 4.5%-9.1% Israel (Richter et al, 2004) 18% increase, all crashes 36% increase in fatal and serious crashes Hong Kong (Wong et al, 2005)

DECREASED SPEEDS result in DECREASED FATALITIES…. everywhere

UNITED STATES Result: 3, ,000 lives saved each year Measure: Nationwide speed limit of 55 mph imposed in 1974 (following energy crisis) Source: Transportation Research Board, 1984

SWITZERLAND Source: Finch et al, 1994 Measure: Speed limits decreased from 130 to 120 kph in 1985 Result: fatal crashes drop by 12 %

SWEDEN Result: fatal crashes drop by 21 % Source: Nilsson, 1990 Measure: Speed limits decreased from 110 to 90 kph in 1989

DENMARK Source: Engel, 1990 Measure: Speed limits decreased from 60 to 50 kph Result: fatal crashes drop by 24 %

AUSTRALIA Measure: 2,500 speed cameras introduced in Queensland, Result: fatal crashes drop by 31 % Source: Newstead, 2001

Speed cameras reduce road deaths by % Source: Pilkington, 2005 Everywhere ….

Change in crashes and injuries Change in deaths Average speed decrease 3,000 – 5,000 lives saved each year United States, (TRB, 1984) Drop by 12%Speeds drop by 5 km/h Switzerland (Finch et al, 1994) Drop by 21%Speeds drop by 14 kph Sweden (Nilsson 1990) Drop by 11% (all crashes) Drop by 31% Australia (Newstead 2001)

Increasing or “relaxing” speed limits will lead to more deaths because… SPEED KILLS