Originally published May 6, 2011 at midnight, updated May 6, 2011 at midnight
Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill on April 20 that will allow speed limit increases on separated multi-lane highways. Currently these highways are set at 70 mph. The change will take effect July 1, and the secretary of transportation, E. Dean Carlson, will decide where to post the new limits.
Amid recent discussion of fatal car crashes and the need for cable barriers, Kansas drivers should pause and consider the need for increasing the speed limit.
According to an April 28 Kansan article, the Kansas Department of Transportation estimated that replacing the signs to display the new limit would cost between $16,500 and $24,750.
But the cost of signs is not the only cost to be considered.
Gas mileage actually decreases for speeds above 60 mph. According to the Department of Energy, each 5 mph someone drives over 60 mph costs him/her an additional 24 cents per gallon of gas.
Furthermore, higher driving speeds could result in more fatalities.
In the mid-1990s several states raised speed limits. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a study in 1999 and found that in states that raised speed limits, interstate fatalities went from 3,100 total in 1995 to 3,504 in 1997.
If raising the speed limit is not fiscally logical, environmentally friendly and could make roads more dangerous, then why do it?
Gov. Brownback has recognized the hesitations surrounding increased speed limits, but he also notes a competing interest for liberty.
Indeed, Kansas falls behind several western states that have already raised the limit to 75, and in some cases 80. Many drivers already push the 70 mph limit, and with the new bill will be able to drive those speeds legally.
However, when assessing highways such as Kansas Highway 10, it’s important to weigh the costs against the benefits.
Several students drive K-10 daily to commute to the University from the Kansas City area. One could argue that a high number of young and inexperienced drivers travel this road, so why take a risk that could make it more dangerous?
Ironically, the Gov. has also pledged support for a cable barrier along K-10 in an effort to prevent more deadly crashes. It seems counterintuitive to also support a speed limit increase.
While some highways in Kansas might benefit from the increased speed limit, the risk is too great for highways like K-10. With evidence to support the costs of increasing the speed limit, both financially and in terms of safety, one has to consider whether there is a need to drive faster.
It seems the only other competing interest is liberty, and maybe Kansas drivers should be looking to find liberty in safety.
— Erin Brown for the Kansan Editorial Board.
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Comments
Brown: On the road, liberty is found through safety
Though this is not Germany, the Autobahn has very high speed limits and the casualty rate on them is minimal. In some instances the faster speed requires the driver to be more aware and thus less likely to lose control of a vehicle.
Brown: On the road, liberty is found through safety
"Several students drive K-10 daily to commute to the University from the Kansas City area. One could argue that a high number of young and inexperienced drivers travel this road, so why take a risk that could make it more dangerous?" Oops, there it is... Is it possible that many of the "accidents" were the responsibility of young inexperienced drivers and not the road? Tell me seriously, why is this stretch of road so bad? It is pretty smooth, vision is excellent, for the most part straight with no really tight turns, so what makes this road so bad? If you go back and do the research you will see that many of those responsible were either driving distracted or driving impaired. Now, that doesn't help the real victims but having been part of a few accident investigations I know there are very few real accidents. Too many people today don't want to except the fact that people do stupid things and sometimes they kill others (and themselves) doing them. I think the reason is the old "there but for the grace of god go I". It is more reassuring to say that an accident took the lives of a 5 year old child rather the irresponsible behavior of one your friends. The same kind of behavior that you also perform. As for the others; there is no shortage of oil or gasoline. If someone wants to drive fast in a responsible manner and they are paying for their own gas what business is it of yours?
Brown: On the road, liberty is found through safety
substitute accept for except I hope the god reference doesn't offend any atheists reading this
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