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Article: Evaluating the impact of the 65 mph maximum speed limit on Iowa rural interstates.(Statistical Practice)
- Article from:
- The American Statistician
- Article date:
- February 1, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1996 American Statistical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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1. INTRODUCTION
The Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 allowed states to raise the maximum speed limit on rural interstates from 55 to 65 mph. By the end of 1987, 38 states - including the state of Iowa on May 12, 1987 - had raised the maximum speed limit on designated portions of their interstate system.
Several studies have investigated the impact of this speed limit change on actual traffic speed and traffic safety, using different time periods, data, and statistical methods. Although not every study reaches the same conclusion, the combined evidence favors a finding that the speed limit change compromised safety. See ...