The Effectiveness Of The 55 Mph National Maximum Speed Limit As A Life Saving Benefit Executive Summary

An update is provided of key legislative changes that have taken place concerning the fifty-five miles-per-hour National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL). Summary statistics through the 1978 time period are followed by summaries of the literature reviewed on the benefits of the NMSL. An annotated bibliography of 16 studies represents various points of view and interests of the traffic safety community, and a supplementary list of references is provided. Findings of the Task Force are presented with the range of estimates for conclusions drawn. Since the 1973-4 decreases in fatalities, travel, and speed, there have been small increases for 1976-8, but the level of fatalities has not returned to pre-55 mph NMSL levels. In spite of a shortage of reliable data, it was concluded that 20,000 to 30,000 lives were saved in the 1974-1978 period.