Most states make use of low pace limits in residential areas to forestall collisions and pedestrian accidents, with limits usually between 25 and 35 mph. In 2016, Seattle started decreasing a few of its pace limits from 30 to 25 mph on arterial roads and 25 to twenty mph in neighborhoods. That will sound like a bummer to automobile fanatics, however the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) lately revealed its research on the modifications, discovering that drivers are much less prone to be injured in a crash.
Decrease pace limits had a big impact on the probability that individuals could be injured in a crash. After the pace limits modified, the IIHS discovered that drivers had a 17 p.c decrease likelihood of harm within the metropolis’s downtown space. Issues had been even higher on arterial roads, the place drivers had a 20 p.c decrease likelihood of being injured.
In an earlier research that checked out Seattle’s first spherical of pace reductions, the IIHS in contrast three management cities in Washington state the place limits weren’t modified, vs. Seattle. By late 2019, Seattle had modified the pace limits in 1 / 4 of its main neighborhoods. Most crashes occur on arterial roads in all the cities, however Seattle noticed a decline in crashes with accidents whereas management cities noticed will increase.
Metropolis officers took discover of the research and, in 2020, lowered many of the remaining pace limits on arterial roads to 25 mph. The trouble concerned eradicating a whole lot of outdated pace indicators and changing them with 2,600 new ones. The brand new indicators are extra densely put in to make sure everybody is aware of in regards to the change.
Although Seattle’s arterial roads noticed enchancment, there have been no modifications within the probability of harm throughout crashes on neighborhood streets and tight downtown streets. The IIHS factors out that the slim roads could naturally restrict drivers’ consolation with pace and famous that it may very well be attainable that areas with higher signage noticed extra enchancment.
“After we speak in regards to the Secure System strategy, we at all times stress that no person ought to should die due to a mistake,” mentioned IIHS President David Harkey. “These outcomes illustrate the worth of rethinking pace limits. Crashes nonetheless occurred after Seattle’s modifications, however they weren’t as harmful.”
“These outcomes recommend that communities can reap substantial advantages by decreasing pace limits,” mentioned IIHS Senior Analysis Transportation Engineer Wen Hu, the research’s lead writer. “To cut back accidents even additional, communities ought to mix decrease pace limits with engineering options, public schooling in regards to the significance of diminished speeds, and high-visibility enforcement.”