US DOT report confirms speed not major cause of accidents

Early93Viper

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US DOT report confirms speed not major cause of accidents - Autoblog

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Sometimes numbers lie. But we keep them around because they tell the truth more often than not. The NHTSA undertook a two-and-a-half year study that examined 5,471 injury accidents nationwide in order to figure out how accidents were being caused. Government researchers conducted their own evidence gathering at crash sites in order to establish a first-hand account of causation. What did they find? Among other things, that more drivers crashed as a result of crossing the center line (11%) than as a result of speeding (5%). Speeding, in this case, defined by "too fast for conditions," not necessarily above the posted limit.

In accidents where driver error was the cause, speeding also came in last as a causative: the 8% who drove too fast were tied with the 8% who fell asleep or had heart attacks while driving. What's more, the NHTSA's causation percentages are strikingly similar to the percentages found in an independent study conducted by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. In its study of crashes in 2007, the VDoT found that 2.9% were due to speeding -- dead last -- while 3.8%t were due to drivers falling asleep or falling ill at the tiller.

What will this mean to the politicians setting and revising speed limits based on the "Speed Kills!" mantra? Probably nothing. But it's nice to know, and nice to have the government researched numbers to back it up.
 

slaughterj

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I'll be sure to carry that report with me, so that when stopped, I can demonstrate to the officer that the law has no basis and that instead of having to deal with me challenging it, he can just move along.
 

alpine7822

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I'll be sure to carry that report with me, so that when stopped, I can demonstrate to the officer that the law has no basis and that instead of having to deal with me challenging it, he can just move along.

If you get stopped in Va I'll be glad to post your bail and represent you. :lmao:
 

GTSnake

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The only reason for speed limits is so cities have a scale to set the fine amounts.:drive:
 

Chuck 98 RT/10

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With the exception of "too fast for conditions" blaming speeding for so many accidents always seemed naive to me. You can only go as fast as the traffic will allow.
 
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