Speed doesn't kill?

[Jim Griffin <JGriff@pobox.com>]

FYI... at least it hasn't in MA this past year!!

BOSTON, Jan. 2 (UPI) - The number of people killed on Massachusetts'  
highways dropped significantly last year, defying predictions that 
increasing the legal speed limit from 55 to 65 miles per hour would 
trigger an increase. 
	Experts are crediting better enforcement and public education for the  
decrease in traffic fatalities. 
	Figures through Dec. 26 show 376 traffic deaths in 1996, compared to  
438 fatalities the year before. That's a drop of 14 percent. 
	Fatalities on the Massachusetts Turnpike were down almost twice that  
much, 27 percent, even though the speed limit on the Pike and portions 
of other interstate highways was boosted from 55 to 65 mph last summer. 
	Officials also note that the vast majority of fatal accidents where  
speed was a key factor occurred on roads where the limit was 45 miles 
per hour or less, not on major highways. 
	Speed limits on those small roads were left untouched by last year's  
increase.

                             Jim Griffin
                      JGriff@pobox.com
  http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/4475
                        Maryland, USA
   "Perception is often stronger than reality!"
                               '92 100S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~OOOO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~