Posted by Ed Brennan on February 10, 2000 at 20:41:43:

 SPEED!

Excessive speed is a factor in one-third of all fatal crashes - second only to alcohol as a contributing factor in fatal crashes - 56% of drivers in speed-related fatal crashes were under the influence of alcohol

Economic cost to society of speed-related crashes is $24 billion a year including health care costs of $2 billion annually.

One-third (1/3) of the cost of motor vehicle injuries is paid by tax dollars.

Repealing the National Mandatory Speed limit will increase highway fatalities by 6,434 every year, at a cost of $19.3 billion, over and above the existing $137 billion in annual costs to society due to motor vehicle crashes.

Crash severity increases with increased speed - this in turn leads to increased medical, governmental and societal costs.

This is not just about the Interstates, but also about increasing speeds on the road systems with some of the worst fatality rates; the roads affected by repealing the NMSL include roads that already have the greatest speed problem - more than half (55%) of all speed-related fatalities already occur on roads posted at 55 mph or above -- clearly a speed problem already exists on these roads.

Burdened Federal Government
Increased highway deaths and injuries mean an increased burden on the Federal government in programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

Environmental Costs
Passenger cars and light trucks use approximately 50% more fuel traveling at 75 mph than they do at 55 mph.

Pollutant emissions increase as speeds increase. A vehicle traveling at 65 mph emits 100% more carbon monoxide than the same vehicle traveling at 55 mph, as well as 50% more hydrocarbons and 31% more nitrogen oxides.