Highway deaths up slightly with increased speed limits, statistics suggest

Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998 | 9:36 a.m.

But state transportation officials said it's too early to conclude that higher speed limits alone are responsible for higher death rates.

"We can't draw any strong conclusions," said Fred Droes, chief safety engineer for the Nevada Department of Transportation. "We want to take a close look at the reasons for the rates to make sure it is not an anomaly."

Still, the Nevada Highway Patrol said faster speeds raise concerns.

NHP spokesman Tony Almaraz said faster speeds make it more difficult for the average driver to respond to road hazards.

"If a cow walks in the road, they are either going to overcorrect or make a decision that could be very costly," Almaraz said. "They may be able to control better in some cases a slower speeds."

Nevada raised speed limits in December 1995.

The fatal crash rate, determined by the number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles, rose to 1.11 in 1996, up from 0.74 in 1995 on urban interstates. But figures show the rate fell last year to 0.87.

On rural interstates, the rate increased to 3.2 in 1996, up from 2.51 the year before. It dropped to 2.62 in 1997.

Transportation officials said most traffic deaths in Nevada are caused by drivers running off the road. In rural areas, many fall asleep at the wheel.

"At 75 mph you are traveling at 100 feet a second," Almaraz said. "If you nod off you've just traveled 300 feet. A lot happens in a second."

Almaraz said while speed contributes to fatal accidents, a bigger factor is the lack of a seat belt.

"Usually what kills is they are ejected or partially ejected and the car runs over them," he said. "You can get ejected at 25 mph."

On urban freeways, the problem is rear-end collisions, Almaraz added.

"When you're driving two feet off people's bumper at 65 mph, it doesn't give you a lot of room," he said. "You have to drive according to the conditions."

NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder said people will continue to have accidents no matter what the speed limit.

"It's because of inattentive driving," he said.

"The fatality rate didn't skyrocket. There are other contributing factors."