Ohio Highway Deaths Drop Despite Higher Speed Limit

Discussion in 'Mid-Ohio Motoring' started by Nathan, Jan 4, 2014.

  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Yeah...cause we are not as bored on the roads now!

    Traffic fatalities on Ohio’s highways were down roughly 14 percent in 2013 despite a mid-year speed limit increase from 65 to 70 miles per hour, according to a preliminary Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) report. The number of deaths dropped from 1,122 in 2012 to 966 last year.

    Pending the results of investigations regarding 16 unconfirmed fatalities, at most 982 individuals died in car accidents on Ohio’s highways in 2013. At worst, this would represent a more than 12 percent drop from the year before.

    In addition to setting a record for the safest year in modern history, the 2013 total suggests that dire warnings from lobbying groups opposing the 70 mile per hour speed limit were wrong.

    The 5 mile per hour increase on many highways was included in the state’s omnibus transportation budget bill, House Bill 51 (HB 51).

    In March 2013, Ohio Insurance Institute (OII) president Dan Kelso explained to Dayton Daily News reporter Laura Bischoff that his organization opposed the change, because “the faster you drive, the higher the risk.â€

    The OSHP did not formally oppose the transportation budget language, but had opposed attempts by legislators to increase the maximum speed limit via standalone bills in the past.

    In 2012, OSHP spokeswoman lieutenant Anne Ralston told Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Paul Kostyu that a proposal to increase the speed limit by 5 miles per hour would result in “more injuries and more damage,†characterizing her prediction as an application of “simple physics.â€

    “I don’t recall that we made any predictions of anything on what would happen,†OII Vice President of Public Information and Education Mitch Wilson told Media Trackers when asked about OSHP’s fatality report and his organization’s opposition to the speed limit change.

    Wilson went on to explain that “we’re always against any kind of increase.â€

    “We’re very pleased that the fatalities and severity of the accidents were not as we had predicted, as we had thought would happen, with the higher speed limits,†he added, attributing the drop in fatalities to advances in automotive safety.

    “Saving lives and preventing injuies is always a good thing, without a doubt.â€
     
  2. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
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    Cool--if the fatality rate is dropping roughly 15% per 5 mph increase, they should increase the speed limit another 35 MPH to 105mph, and theoretically decrease the fatalities to 0.

    Excuse me for a moment, gotta see if my Shell stock came through on E-trades.
     
  3. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Or maybe people on cellphones have learned to stop walking in the road. :lol:
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Maybe all the Darwin awards are having a positive effect. The gene pool is being cleared of stupid drivers.
     
  5. Grgramps

    Grgramps New Member

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    Sadly, some will take this to mean that it's safer to drive faster.
     
  6. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    How did you know what I was thinking? :devil:
     
  7. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Sorry to make you sad. Safety Fast! :arf:
     
  8. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
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    My philosophy has always been faster is safer, and I can back it up. The faster I go, the quicker I get there, the quicker I get there, the less time I'm on the road for someone to hit me.

    My all-time favorite speeding ticket line:

    Officer: "I've been waiting for you all day!"

    Speeder: "I've been trying like hell to get here as fast as I could."

    No ticket issued....

    One I used myself off the top of my head, driving through the state of Indiana, with Illinois plates after an interview (the day before Thanksgiving, about 25 years ago):

    Officer: "Son, do you know what the speed limit is here in the state of Indiana?"

    Me: "No, but I'm hoping it's about 10 MPH faster than it is in the state of Illinois."

    Ticket given.
     
  9. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
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    Studies have shown that the safest speed is that which 85% of drivers on that road travel at. It's not speed that is dangerous it is the speed differential between drivers on a road.

    Speed Limit Articles

    Dave
     
  10. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    If the drivers who doddle along in the left lane would move right everyone would be safer. Left lane camper's & members of the anti-destination league are the problem. Along with this country's laughable driver training.
     
  11. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    Other countries are worse at training, believe me. I lived in South Korea for a few years. You had to get your license BEFORE you could take any training courses. So of course, what's the incentive to take any training once you've gotten a license?

    Some countries merely require that you can drive forward in a straight line, then reverse in a straight line. That's it. Test passed.

    It's weird to think about, but our licenses work as proof that we can drive in any country in the world. We can rent cars anywhere with a US issued license, but not everyone can rent cars here with their countries' license.

    And even so, we've got no shortages of idiots on the roads.
     
  12. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I wish we would get rid of the HOV lanes and pass a law that would not allow anyone at anytime to be in the far left lane if they are not in a car. This means every stupid MINIVAN, Truck, SUV, Bus, Semi must stay right.

    FYI this works well in Northern NJ on the turn pike near NYC. The road splits and all trucks and busses have to be on a separate 3 lane road running parallel to the cars.
     
  13. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Hearing there are other places with worse training somehow doesn't make me feel any better or make those moron's here any less stupid.

    I'm with you Dave keep those darned trucks out of the left lane. Semi's in the left lane.... :incazzato:
     
  14. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    I just noticed OHIO is actually called "HI" between 2 donut's one at each end. :lol: :donut1:
     
  15. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    ..damn, the secret's out !!!!
     
  16. GokartPilot

    GokartPilot Well-Known Member

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    Japan has actual driving centers, road courses where they teach. I can't remember how long the program is before you can even get on the road but I would have went crazy as a 16 year old.
     
  17. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Speed does not kill people, it the sudden stops.
     
  18. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    Do you think this report will have the Troopers doing anything but handing out speeding tickets? NO. We fund an entire state police to do almost nothing but tax us again with speeding tickets.

    No I didn't just get one. Just my rant for the day.
     
  19. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Yep Ohio has a pretty high $peed tax...... It's all about revenue not traffic safety.
     
  20. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    HAHAHA Ever get a ticket in Virginia?

    I thought I was buying the whole police station Dinner. :mad2:

    FYI~ I think anything over 20 - 25 MPH get you a subpoena for court and after fines you can still end up in jail for 90 days.
     

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