Highway related deaths are down are down to its lowest rates , since 1949. Why do you think this is?

Same trend in Germany. Two reasons:

1) Safer cars
2) Better rescue infrastructure

No, I didn’t know this. Maybe it’s time to bump up the speed limit to 75 or 80.

Mrentropy, I think you missed the point of the question.

No I didn’t, this is great news. I’m sure it will only get lower and lower as better cars and more safety features are introduced. And hopefully more thorough driving tests.

@mrentropy Agreed.

@john65pennington How? It’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. Yes, I did or No, I didn’t.

Traffic has actually increased slightly (up 0.7% from last year), though there had been a decline over the preceding years from the peak in 2007.

In addition to the improved cars and roads (OK John, and cops), I wonder if the use of GPS might have contributed a little tiny bit. Less trying to look at maps and directions while driving.

I read that yesterday. Certainly driving is up since 1949 :)
I don’t know if I can say we are better drivers, because I still see too many crazy drivers out there.
I think better safety equipment in cars, roads, law enforcement, rescue and medical procedures all lend a hand in these numbers too.

Mrentropy. The core question was based around three points: drivers defensive driving, stats, and fuel costs.

@john65pennington Okay. I think a lot of it has to do with safety features of cars, including materials. It may also have something to do with better roads. Throw in some seat belts and police patrols to stop regular reckless driving and I think it’s time to bump up the speed limit a bit.

I think it’s mostly due to @john65pennington‘s efforts as a police man. Without him they may only be at their lowest since 1969!

@mrentropy There is a reason things are designed and not over designed. I think safety design in cars and roads take into account the average and maximum posted speeds. Raising the speed limit would not be a wish idea unless you are willing to take the increased fatalities, injuries and lower fuel economy.
This can certainly be seen if you look at the statistics based on speed or based on vehicle make.

It likely is in this economy less people could afford cars and/or fuel for cars resulting in less drivers. I guess that’s the silver lining in this tied for worst economy ever.

I would want to know if accidents are up or down also. That would be more of a comment on drivers, traffic laws, speed limits, etc. People surviving accidents you have to add in safety measures inside of cars like air bags, rescue efforts, etc.

As the cost of gasoline goes up, the number of accidents will continue to decrease. Likewise with the declining economy.

@blueiiznh Statistics and studies are manipulated to however the people gathering or paying for the reports want it to be. As a related fer-instance, there were studies done to keep the national speed limit down at 55. The studies, reports, and statistics showed a huge number of speed related accidents. It turns out, though, that any accident that involved a motored vehicle was considered a “speed related” accident.

If your car was hit in the parking lot by another car and you reported it to the insurance company, it was counted as a speed related accident. Even if the other car was moving at 5 MPH and put a gouge in your car.

So, I don’t much care for statistics unless I put them together myself. I just threw in the idea of increasing the speed limits for the sake of being… me.

Of course, I have read a report that said we didn’t really need a speed limit because the majority of drivers will drive at a speed that is comfortable for them, which runs to 65MPH to 70MPH on average.

The DOT equates it to safer, more stable cars, seat belt use, which is up from 11% in 1980 to 84%, and crack-downs on drunk driving.

@12Oaks is right.

@mrentropy I agree on the concept of statistics don’t lie, but liars create statistics as well as the Lies, damned lies, and statistics

But what we are talking about is common sense relationships. I still don’t agree that it all means we should increase the speed limits.

@blueiiznh Nobody said you had to agree. I agree with me, and that’s good enough for me. But I didn’t say statistics didn’t lie; I think they do depending on who’s gathering them.

@mrentropy Exactly.