Deaths Linked to Higher Speed Limits

The old adage that speed kills may have some merit.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that in 24 states that raised their speed limits in 1995 and 1996, motor vehicle deaths increased. Based on its 1997 studies, the institute estimated a 15% increase in deaths on Interstates and freeways.

In states where the speed limits were not raised, deaths did not increase, according to the study, released Jan. 14.

"It’s clear from this study that the current round of speed-limit increases — like increases on rural interstates in the 1980’s — is costing hundreds of lives per year," said Brian O’Neill, president of the institute.

The study did not look at truck and automobile traffic separately. Researchers looked the numbers of motor vehicle deaths in the studied states by comparing monthly fatality rates from 1997 back to 1990, when the federal government allowed states to increase the speed limit on the nation’s highways.

The institute is a nonprofit research and communications organization funded by automobile insurers.