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1995-02-20
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ESSAY 40
THE "SPEED KILLS" MYTH
SPEED KILLS: We've seen it in the media and in govern-
ment publications. "Speed Kills." But, does speed really
kill? Here are the 1993 percentages of auto accidents with
speeds at which they occurred:
0-20 mph 2.0%
25-30 mph 29.7%
35-40 mph 30.4%
45-50 mph 16.5%
55 mph 19.2%
60-65 mph 2.2%
(U S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Commercial aircraft travel about ten times the speed of
automobiles. Yet, hard statistics tell us that travel on
commercial aircraft is the safest way to travel!
Annually, about 300,000 people are killed in motor
vehicle accidents throughout the world. Approximately 50,000
are killed in the US. Traffic accidents kill more Americans
5-32 years of age than any other cause. About 67 percent of
all accidents are driver-caused. Approximately 40 percent of
all traffic deaths involve alcohol abuse. (Andrea and Flynn).
The German Autobahn system was started before WWII and
has been in constant operation since. Parts of the Autobahn
are without a speed limit. On these portions, people drive 80
mph in the slow lane, 100 mph in the center lane and 130 mph
plus in the fast lane! (Smith). Yet, it has earned a
reputation of being safe and delivering people to their
destinations more quickly.
In Germany, there were 42.5 million registered vehicles
(35.5 million cars) in 1990. The network of roads totals
221,000 km, including 11,000 km of autobahns (motorways). In
size, it is second only to the United States.
An ongoing safety program of driver training in schools,
improved vehicle safety and better roads have produced fewer
fatalities on the Autobahn in spite of greater traffic
density. The one exception is the area that comprised the old
German Democratic Republic [the former communist East
Germany]--it has a higher accident rate since it has had to
adjust to more traffic and faster cars. (Here is another
confirmation that becoming more socialistic is stupid!) To
earn a license in Germany, one must complete 33 hours of
classroom instruction and 18 hours of road training.
Every modern car in Germany is designed for safety and
high performance. Their vehicles stick to the roads on curves
and will stop on a dime.
DRUNK DRIVING LAWS ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED. And with good
results, too! We must enforce our drunk driving laws!
President Dwight D. Eisenhower saw the efficiency of the
German Autobahn system first hand while Supreme Allied
Commander. After WWII, he supported a system of highways in
the United States based on the successful German Autobahn
system. However, he wanted speed limits. (Smith).
The faster people and freight can be delivered on our
highways, the more efficient our transportation system be-
comes. This saves manhours and money, which eventually
raises the individual standard of living. It also speeds up
the economy, thereby generating more taxes without raising
the tax rate!
Keep in mind that the original reason that President
Nixon reduced our national speed limit was to save gasoline!
That reason is no longer valid--if it ever was.
Now, what really kills? Stupidity and ignorance kill!
To be more precise, what is really needed for highway safety?
1. EACH DRIVER MUST DRIVE SAFELY. Drivers need to be educated
in driving principles rather than in following laws legalis-
tically. There are times when one can safely drive 80 mph
in a given area and there are times when a safe speed may be
25 mph or even "0" mph--one should stay at home! Motor
vehicle operators who have certain physical or mental limita-
tions must operate a vehicle only in circumstances where they
can safely drive. Physicians must insure that patients who
are not qualified to drive do not drive.
Incidentally, government publications that state that
citizens do not have a RIGHT to drive and that driving is a
PRIVILEGE given by some bureaucrat, are wrong. All citizens
have a right to operate a vehicle if they can drive safely!
I have observed in Missouri that many do not use their
turn signals, or misuse them.
One example of a universal human limitation is that we
have an irregularly-shaped blind spot in each eye. This blind
area occurrs where the optic nerve meets the retina. It is
about 12 1/2 degrees to the left in the left eye and 12 1/2
degrees to the right in the right eye. We are not aware of
these "black holes" in our vision, since the brain, like a
computer, "fills in the blanks." Most of us have experienced
not seeing a car to our left as we merge into traffic. There-
fore, there is a need for better engineering of rear-view
mirrors to compensate for the blind spots. Through traffic
should stay in the left lane because merging drivers may
not see the merging vehicles. This is also showing common
courtesy for those trying to enter the highway. COURTESY
IS CONTAGIOUS. Courtesy also helps counteract anger, which
contibutes to accidents.
2. THE WHOLE HIGHWAY SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED. The new
design should be integrated with safer vehicles and more
intelligent laws.
3. VEHICLE DESIGN MUST HAVE SAFETY AS A PRIORITY. Higher
miles-per-gallon and less expensive cars must be secondary
goals. Such improvements as air bags (driver, passenger and
side), seat belts, protective side beams, roll bars, anti-
lock brakes, collapsible steering posts, head rests/
restraints and safety bumpers are a good start. However,
safety research and development must be ongoing with prompt
implementation.
4. VEHICLE INSPECTION SHOULD BE USED AS A MEANS TO PROVIDE
SAFER VEHICLES RATHER THAN AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE.
5. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SHOULD BE TAUGHT PROPERLY. They
must not be pressured to "collect illegal taxes" through
tickets. The old "Boss Hogg-Roscoe P. Coletrane syndrome"
must be terminated! While law enforcement officers are not
judges, they of necessity must exercise judgment. A good
question they must ask is, "How can I help drivers?" Not,
"How can I fill my quota of tickets today?" Another good
question is, "Is this operator driving safely?" Rather than,
"Did he break some law?" I know of two handicapped ladies
who were given tickets on a street that had its speed limit
lowered from 35 mph to 25 mph for a month or so.
In my opinion, there was no safety violation, and at most, a
warning ticket should have been given.
I served as a Chaplain with Military Police in Vietnam.
I also served with the following Army Reserve units: Prisoner
of War, Criminal Investigation, Confinement Facility, and the
U S Army Disciplinary Barracks [Prison] in Leavenworth. (Some
Military Police were Reservists who also served in civilian
law enforcement). I have the highest regard for law enforce-
ment officers who are capable and who are doing their job
right. However, it galls me (and good cops) when it isn't
done properly. It isn't right for anyone in authority to
vent hostility on innocent citizens. It is not right to
break the bones of passive protestors. It is not right to "go
on the take" and become a corrupt cop. It is right to assume
the posture of public servant and attempt to help people!
The correct philosophy is not to PUNISH lawbreakers and exact
a pound of flesh, but CORRECT and RESTORE lawbreakers to
society where possible. Citizens will imitate a good law
enforcement role model, including those who drive safely.
Speed does not kill. Stupidity and ignorance do!
Resources
Special thanks to the Embassy of the Federal Republic
of Germany, 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007; and
the German Information Center, 950 Third Avenue, New York, NY
10022-2781 for help in research on the Autobahn.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Smith, Jack. "The Autobahn Empire." TOWN AND COUNTRY, p. 63.
THE WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA, 1993 ed. S.v. "Automobile," by
David J. Andrea and Michael S. Flynn.
END