Slight Speed Increases Studied
New crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and Humanetics show that even small increases in speed could have significant effects on crash outcomes. The safety organizations tested crashes at three impact speeds – 40, 50, and 56 miles per hour. Results showed that even slight speed increases were sufficient to increase the risk of severe vehicle occupant injury or death.
The Effect on Speed Limits
Travelers commonly drive faster than the posted speed limit. When speed limits are raised to match driver speeds, people go faster still. Currently, 41 states have roadways with 70 mph or higher speed limits. Eight states have roads with speed limits of 80 mph or more.
A study conducted by IIHS in 2019 found that raising speed limits resulted in close to 37,000 lives lost over the prior 25 years. IIHS and AAA are urging policymakers to consider this statistic when proposing changes to speed limits.
The recent crash tests were conducted to examine the effect that different speeds had on drivers. They found that slight speed increases could result in significant differences in the harm done to the bodies of the vehicle occupants. The trade-off of arriving at your destination a few minutes sooner is just not worth it.
Watch the YouTube video uploaded by IIHS reporting on the study.
Injuries Noted
Humanetics, the other partner in the study along with AAA and IIHS, is the leading manufacturer of crash test dummies. The tests used three 2010 Honda CR-V EX crossover vehicles. That year and model was chosen because it represented the average American vehicle age of nearly 12 years. That vehicle model had also earned the highest rating in the moderate overlap front test per IIHS.
Researchers found greater forces and more structural damage throughout the crash test dummy’s entire body as the speeds increased during the tests.
During the crash test performed at 40 mph, there was minimal driver space intrusion, however, the 50 mph crash resulted in noticeable deformation of the dashboard, driver side door, and foot area. When the crash test was performed at 56 mph, the interior of the vehicle was significantly compromised, and the sensors on the crash dummy indicated severe neck injuries along with a likelihood of long bone fractures to the lower leg.
At the two higher speeds, the upward movement of the steering wheel caused the head of the dummy to go through the deployed airbag, smashing its face into the steering wheel. The sensors showed a high risk of brain injury and facial fractures.
Conclusion: Enforce Rather Than Raise Speed Limits
The study found that increasing speed limits can eliminate the benefits of improvements to vehicle safety features such as airbags and structural design improvements. Even though vehicles are safer than ever, no one has been able to figure out how to make them defy the laws of physics.
The researchers concluded that instead of increasing speed limits, states should strongly enforce the limits currently in place by using methods such as speed cameras and high-visibility enforcement. When they are correctly set and vigorously enforced, speed limits improve the flow of traffic and maximize safety for drivers on the road.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer who has practiced throughout the Greater Sacramento region for more than 38 years. If you or anyone you love has suffered injuries caused by another driver’s speeding, or otherwise careless or reckless driving, please reach out to an injury lawyer at my firm for compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. In the alternative, you may complete our online contact form.
Photo Attribution: MMB
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