The 55-MPH Highway Speed Limit Revisited: A Case-Control Study.
Abstract
Motor vehicle accidents are a significant public health problem in the US. Several host, agent, and environmental factors influence the risk of crash death. Over the past several years, maximum highway speed limits have been raised in several states. Most studies have concluded that the increased limits have increased motor vehicles deaths. In this study, a case-control design was used to estimate the strength of association between motor vehicle driver deaths and maximum state highway speed limits in excess of 55 mph during each year in the period, 1991 to 1993. To date, no other study has used this method. Cases were obtained from the Fatal Accident Reporting System, and were grouped into three general categories of accidents: accidents not involving collisions or impacts; accidents involving collisions with other moving motor vehicles; and accidents involving collisions with stationary objects. Four separate control groups were obtained from deaths recorded in the Multiple Cause of Death Files. Decedents in the four control groups were those who died from unintentional poisoning with solids or liquids; non-Hodgkins lymphoma; accidental drowning; or diabetes mellitus. The exposure factor was residence in a state at the time of death, according to maximum highway speed limit. Exposed cases were decedents who died in a state with a 60 or 65 mph maximum speed limit (42 states). Non-exposed cases were decedents who died in a state with a 55 mph maximum speed limit (nine states). Controlled for age and sex, odds ratios for persons in high speed states were consistently and strongly elevated for driver deaths in non-collision accidents.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 09, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA353459
Entities
People
- Grover K. Yamane
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology