Citation

Bunch TW. J. Am. Med. Assoc. JAMA 1990; 263(14): 1915-1916.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, American Medical Association)

DOI

10.1001/jama.1990.03440140035019

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Gallaher et al have provided us with useful data concerning New Mexico road fatalities, but I am afraid they missed the point. Their data emphasized an increase in death rate of 1.5 per 100 million vehicle miles since the rural interstate speed limit has been raised from 55 to 65 mph. However, since only 10% of the victims were wearing seat belts and 43% of the crashes involved alcohol, it is obvious that the fatality rate could be dropped significantly below even the 55-mph fatality rate if these two problems were given the emphasis they deserve. Seat belts that have to be in place before the cars can start and jail for drunk drivers would have a much more profound effect on fatalities than a 55-mph speed limit. As long as the American public is misled into thinking that speed is the real killer, we will never reduce road fatality completely.