Lower speed limit tied to fewer fatalities

Kathy Walker's letter on March 1 didn't tell us why the states that limit large trucks to a lower speed limit have an overall lower fatality rate than the states that allow them to go at faster speeds, as I printed from the official statistics in my Feb. 18 letter.

It's something the public isn't supposed to know. I've gotten letters from people who tell me “it's a relief to drive in Illinois where they limit big rigs to a lower speed.”

Iowa interstates had 15 to 19 fatalities per year during 1984 to 1986 while limited to 55 mph. During the last four years of the 65 mph limit, there was an average of 31 fatalities per year. Then during the last five years of the 70 mph limit, that jumped to 41 fatalities per year.

Then someone put out a clever report saying “only two of the fatalities on interstates were caused by speed.” If there were no speed limit, they could technically say speed didn't cause any fatalities.”

Herman Lenz

Sumner