Citation

Waller PF. Transp. Q. 2002; 56(3): 55-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Eno Transportation Foundation)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The primary purpose of our highway system is mobility, not safety. If it were the latter, we would set speed limits much lower. A 20 mph speed limit, with governors (speed limiting devices) on all motor vehicles to prevent exceeding that speed, would certainly lower highway casualties. Of course, no one would consider such a measure. Clearly, we tacitly agree to accept a certain level of carnage in order to use the highways in ways we value. At the present time in the US, this tacit agreement says that it is acceptable to sacrifice between 40,000 and 42,000 lives annually.