Raising Speed Limits Cost Lives

[dmclone]

2025 was crazy low for Iowa. Iowa saw a 27% reduction, and the U.S. saw a 7% reduction.

Year Fatalities
2025 260
2024 357
2023 379
2022 336
2021 356
2020 343
2019 337
2018 319
2017 330
2016 402
2015 320
2014 322
2013 317
2012 365
2011 360
2010 390
2009 371
2008 411
2007 442
2006 442
2005 450
2004 388
2003 441
2002 404
2001 446
2000 445
1999 490
1998 461
1997 466
1996 465
1995 527
1994 479
1993 453
1992 440
1991 483
1990 463
1989 496
1988 517
1987 482
1986 447
1985 482
1984 422
1983 511
1982 465
1981 632
1980 588
1979 635
1978 610
1977 634
1976 569
1975 611
1974 592
1973 694
1972 815
1971 730
1970 912

 

[DSMCy]

We took our trip to the Black Hills a couple of years ago and I think we went maybe 82-83 at most. You just start to feel a bit uncomfortable at speeds that high.

I have some family in Nebraska and there are spots where a 2 lane highway is 65
I can never get myself to go that fast. It's also a little hilly so coming up over those hills where you can't see, terrifying

 

[DSMCy]

Obviously nobody cares about this in Iowa. (Unfortunately) More deaths on the roads aren't gonna matter.

Those billboards showing traffic deaths this year are going to look more like clocks

 

[BryceC]

Stop ******* driving in the left lane on the interstate. Use it to pass that’s it. Stop driving glued to the rearview. Stop blocking traffic. These are the dumbasses that escalate tempers and cause aggressive driving.

Might I suggest controlling your temper like an adult should do?

 

[BryceC]

I have some family in Nebraska and there are spots where a 2 lane highway is 65
I can never get myself to go that fast. It's also a little hilly so coming up over those hills where you can't see, terrifying

My car 85 is a little fast but it’s old.

My wife has a newer Telluride which is a nice car. It’s smart cruise automatically goes 10 over. I’m always going 65 on 2 lanes and 85 on interstates when speed limit is 55 or 75. Super comfortable honestly.

 

[Cyforce]

Might I suggest controlling your temper like an adult should do?

No tickets or accidents in over 30 years. That doesn’t mean I don’t see what’s going on. Your assumption is more jumping the shark.

 

[2122]

If all 340 million people in the US spent an entire year in vehicles that would collectively be less than 3 trillion hours.

I calculate that 10% slower speed limit means equivalent of around 35,000 lifespans (680,000 hrs avg lifespan) per year wasted in US steering car 2 hrs/ day avg. at say 10% slower speed. Over 25 year timeframe that is equivalent of 875,000 lifespans used much less productively, vs 37,000 partial lives saved due to lower speed limits.

My math may be off.

 

[BryceC]

No tickets or accidents in over 30 years. That doesn’t mean I don’t see what’s going on. Your assumption is more jumping the shark.

You literally said people driving slow in the left lane cause raised tempers and aggressive driving. “But they started it!” Doesn’t fly as an excuse for my 9 year old. I don’t accept it for adult drivers.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

2025 was crazy low for Iowa. Iowa saw a 27% reduction, and the U.S. saw a 7% reduction.

Year Fatalities
2025 260
2024 357
2023 379
2022 336
2021 356
2020 343
2019 337
2018 319
2017 330
2016 402
2015 320
2014 322
2013 317
2012 365
2011 360
2010 390
2009 371
2008 411
2007 442
2006 442
2005 450
2004 388
2003 441
2002 404
2001 446
2000 445
1999 490
1998 461
1997 466
1996 465
1995 527
1994 479
1993 453
1992 440
1991 483
1990 463
1989 496
1988 517
1987 482
1986 447
1985 482
1984 422
1983 511
1982 465
1981 632
1980 588
1979 635
1978 610
1977 634
1976 569
1975 611
1974 592
1973 694
1972 815
1971 730
1970 912

With those numbers, it must have been a virtual demolition derby on the roads after the Wadena Rock Festival in 1970

 

[Al_4_State]

You literally said people driving slow in the left lane cause raised tempers and aggressive driving. “But they started it!” Doesn’t fly as an excuse for my 9 year old. I don’t accept it for adult drivers.

Everyone should keep their tempers in check.

People who drive slow in the left lane cause massive traffic issues and needlessly waste the time of hundreds, if not thousands of people at a given moment. I would guarantee that this has caused needless deaths by delaying responses. This demonstrates a complete disregard for the time of others, which is wildly disrespectful IMO.

Two things can be true at the same time.

 

[Cyforce]

You literally said people driving slow in the left lane cause raised tempers and aggressive driving. “But they started it!” Doesn’t fly as an excuse for my 9 year old. I don’t accept it for adult drivers.

Didn’t say they raise mine but I understand jumping to conclusions is more your speed than comprehension. Been driving north of 40 years now. I’ve witnessed road rage cause fatalities to bystanders. That’s not something I could live with. Doesn’t mean seeing stupidity doesn’t irritate me. A lot like explaining myself to dumbasses.

 

[madguy30]

Are you saying it takes the same amount of time no matter how fast you are going? If So maybe we should make the speed limit 30

No, maybe read the first post you responded to when I said it doesn't save that much time.

Now if it's like a 5-6 hour drive and you're able to maintain the same speed the whole time, which is really hard to do unless it's an empty straight highway, there will be more time saved, although it will probably be worse gas mileage at some point.

On a daily commute type of deal, you'll probably have a hard time finding a mechanic that doesn't love a place with faster drivers.

And this isn't some push to keep everything at 55 MPH or something either as tech in cars and roads, etc can improve this aspect.

People just don't realize how they're wearing out their own cars faster because they think they have to be the first one to the red light to brake hard, sit there and idle.

 

[BryceC]

Didn’t say they raise mine but I understand jumping to conclusions is more your speed than comprehension. Been driving north of 40 years now. I’ve witnessed road rage cause fatalities to bystanders. That’s not something I could live with. Doesn’t mean seeing stupidity doesn’t irritate me. A lot like explaining myself to dumbasses.

When did I accuse you of anything?

 

[madguy30]

With those numbers, it must have been a virtual demolition derby on the roads after the Wadena Rock Festival in 1970

Looks like I can assume the '95 Arlington 4th of July Fireworks caused some serious carnage.

 

[Cyforce]

When did I accuse you of anything?

When you said control YOUR temper like adults do.

 

[JimDogRock]

I calculate that 10% slower speed limit means equivalent of around 35,000 lifespans (680,000 hrs avg lifespan) per year wasted in US steering car 2 hrs/ day avg. at say 10% slower speed. Over 25 year timeframe that is equivalent of 875,000 lifespans used much less productively, vs 37,000 partial lives saved due to lower speed limits.

My math may be off.

2 hours per day of driving I think is way off.
The Federal Highway Administration says that the average driver travels almost 14,000 miles per year.
That’s 37 miles per day, and an average speed must be faster than 18.5 mph.

I can’t and won’t dispute that the overall numbers of productivity show that the lost time spent alive by the few who die is less than the time saved by the many who live.
However I don’t think that productivity should be the main calculation used to decide items of safety and freedom.

 

[KennyPratt42]

In a perfect world every Interstate highway, US highway, and major state highways would have 3 speed numbers. A minimum travel speed under normal conditions, a recommended travel speed, and a hard upper limit speed (a required citation if clocked over that number). As an example on the more open stretches of Interstate in Iowa I would have it at a 60 mph minimum (45 mph minimum is much too low in my opinion), 75 mph recommended speed, and 85 mph hard speed limit.

 

[mj4cy]

Approx 40,000 US traffic deaths per year. There are many things we could with cars to make them safer such as a fire suppression system, fuel cell, and a roll cage, but its a risk vs practicality equation.

So we essentially know that every year we're going to have 40,000 deaths with current safety regulations as is. Wanna knock it to 20k? Lower speed limit everywhere to 35 mph. Down to 15k? mandatory helmets. Down to 5k? No left turns. 0? Don't drive.

Maybe this is all going to be moot with the increase of self driving cars.

 

[CyDegen]

You can tell the posters who are the ones going 5 under in the left lane

 

[Cyrealist]

What was the top speed on your Model T?

This was in the 70s in the muscle car era. The speed limit was 70 until the 55 limit came in. Even at 55 to 60, those roads required your full attention.