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Re: UNFAIR SPEED LIMITS



michaelj@relay.relay.com wrote:
: In article <8A72550.20EA001210.uuout@westonia.com>, tom.neumann@westonia.com said:

: It seems to me from the statistics above that not only do higher speed limits
: not contribute to higher fatality rates, but there appears to be no correlation
: at all between speed limits and fatality rates. 


Wow, talk about misinterpretation of statistical data. In most European 
cities that I've driven in the speed limit was like 80 kph (around 50 
mph). That includes Germany. On most intercity routes in the US the limit 
has been raised to 65MPH (around 112 kph) and some are 70mph (120 kph). 

What does correlate in those stats is that people from more educated 
countries get in fewer fatal accidents than people in less educated 
countries. Also there's alot less traffic in Scandinavia in general. 

So education wise, how well trained are US drivers? From my experience 
today, they're pretty stupid. On a two lane highway, slower drivers with 
a line of traffic behind them NEVER pull over to let the traffic pass them.
American drivers play with their radios a lot more (I know I do), more 
goods are shipped by truck here than in Europe (where they still ship by 
train alot) so you don't have 50,000 lbs rolling down the highway legally 
at 80 mph.

And I notice that American drivers use their rear view mirrors but never 
seem to look over their shoulder when changing lanes. NEVER. A day never 
passes when I don't get into an accident because I anticipate someone 
changing lanes in advance of their (sometimes non-existent) signaling, 
without checking to see my car there. Picture that situation 20 mph 
faster. And then some, because we would all go at least 10 mph faster 
than that.


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Steph Greenberg                       
steph@primenet.com           "Every Friday is a prelude to Monday." 
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