Data show that driving at high speeds is a major killer and that haste does not actually make for shorter journeys
Speeding is responsible for a third of all accidents on the roads, according to a recent transport survey by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which found that speed limits are directly linked to fatalities and serious injuries on the roads. For example, a 5 percent increase in the speed of a vehicle leads to a 10 percent increase in road accidents and a 20 percent increase in fatalities. The survey dispels the view that going faster gets you to your destination sooner. It has been shown that wherever there are traffic lights and intersections, stepping on the gas will not get you there faster. Meanwhile in built-up areas, speeds of over 70 kilometers per hour on highways are not feasible. The OECD report shows that if a car traveling at 50 km/h strikes a pedestrian, there is an 80 percent chance that the person will die, whereas if the speed is just 30 km/h, the risk drops to just 10 percent. If a car crashes into the side of another at a speed of over 50 km/h, there is sure to be a fatality; if the collision is head-on the occupants of the car only have a chance if the speed at which the vehicle is traveling is less than 70 km/h. Excessive speed is responsible for 18 percent of serious accidents and 28 percent of deaths. The European Union sets great store by speed management, and most member states are testing various policies regarding speed limits. In most cases the effectiveness of the measures taken is judged on the basis of fatalities and injuries incurred in accidents. The fewer the number of accidents, the more effective the measures are judged to be. A typical example is that of France, where in 2002 the state declared open warfare against road fatalities. One of the most important steps taken by the French government was to step up traffic police patrols and increase fines. The result was a drastic reduction in accidents and fatalities. A number of factors are involved in determining speed limits. Setting maximum speed limits calls for a consideration of factors such as road conditions (width, length, road surface, lighting, traffic flow). In many EU countries the accident record on the specific roads is also taken into account (in Greece, no such records are kept). In Britain, much emphasis is placed on input from local government, particularly in imposing fines and educating the public about road safety. It is believed that local authorities are more flexible and have a better knowledge of local road conditions and which speed limits are appropriate. They are more in tune with local residents and the right ways to raise awareness of road safety. Local authorities were also given the right to set maximum speed limits. More cameras on the roads, particularly speed cameras, were found to be an extremely effective measure. According to a three-year survey, the number of deaths on British roads has dropped by 40 percent in areas where speed cameras have been installed and injuries by 33 percent. There has also been a 7 percent reduction in speed wherever cameras are visible and the number of traffic violations has been reduced by 32 percent.
