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Abstract
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SummaryQuestion
Does increasing the speed limit on the number increase the number of people killed in road accidents?Study design
Cohort study.Main results
After raising the speed limit from 90 to 100 km/h on 1st November 1993, driving speeds increased by 5-9%. The raised speed limit increased the number of road deaths during the following month compared with the preceding month when the speed limit was 90 km/h (number of road deaths at 100 km/h vs. 90 km/h: 61 vs. 46; rate of increase 33%). During this same period, the case fatality rate increased by 25%. At 1 year, deaths and case fatality rates were significantly increased on interurban roads and modestly increased on urban roads (see Results table). At 5 years, deaths and case fatality rates were significantly increased on both interurban and urban roads. Congestion and countermeasures (seatbelts, daytime running lights, improvements in lighting and road quality) prevented more people from being killed.Authors' conclusions
Small increases in speed limit dramatically increase the number of people killed in road accidents. In particular, deaths from serious injury increase significantly. The effects of the increase in speed limit spill over from interurban to urban roads. |