Hello,

Was interested in knowing how is Germany, and similar countries,
fairing out with their open speed limits on main highways compared to
the ones which have more restrictive limits and how is that difference
impacting relative ‘cause’ vehicle accident statistics in them.

/Lizardnation

Hi lizardnation and thanks for the question.

In fact (and somewhat surprisingly) reducing speed limits appears not
to have much effect on the number of vehicle accidents.



Category           The Netherlands  Germany  Sweden  Australia     USA
 
Accident 
Rate                     0.38         0.67     N/A      0.15      
0.63
Accidents per 
vehicle km x 106)

Speed Limits (km/h)
Freeway                   120       No limit    110      110       105

The above statistics are summarised from a report for the "Federal
Highway Administration ,U.S. Department of Transportation" To read the
full report click on the link below:
http://ntl.bts.gov/DOCS/speed06.html


“That's not just an American phenomenon either. 
The National Center for Policy Analysis points out that "no consistent
correlation between speed enforcement and traffic safety improvement
has been shown." The NCPA cites the safety record of Germany's
Autobahn where, despite minimal speed enforcement, fatality rates are
virtually identical to the much-patrolled U.S. interstate system, on
which millions of speeding tickets are issued. “
http://www.free-market.net/spotlight/speed/homepages/


From: The Assembly Committee on Transportation, Nevada
"Providing an example of how flow management versus speed enforcement
as a safety tool,  Mr. Dornsife explained the autobahn in Germany
established no speed limits.  The primary focus in the autobahn's
safety system consisted of:  lane discipline, slower traffic keep
right, turn signal usage and seat belt use.  Mr. Dornsife explained
the death in the United States had been on a fifty year decline at 2
deaths for 100,000,000 vehicle miles.  Nevada, because of the fatique
factor, had a higher rate than the national average.  Mr. Dornsife
stated the autobahn using their safety system ingredients which did
not include speed, had a death rate of less than one per 100,000,000
vehicle miles.
Mr. Dornsife presented a chart showing vehicles traveling at a faster
than average rate had the lowest accident rates while vehicles
traveling slower than the average rate were involved in the most
collisions and created the greatest hazard."
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/67th/93minutes/A_TR_510.html

"Highway deaths did go up when speed limits were raised but overall
deaths on all roadways stayed the same. That is because more people
used the highway. The highway with higher speed limits attracts
drivers from the slower roads."
http://www.collegetermpapers.com/TermPapers/Speech/Life_in_the_fast_lane.shtml


I would like to add that the figures above only deal with vehicle Vīs
vehicle statistics and not with accidents involving pedestrians,
cyclists, and other highway users.
Thank you for the question, and if you need any clarification just
ask.

THX1138


Search strategy:
"speed limit"   autobahn study germany statistics
://www.google.com/search?hl=pt&ie=ISO-8859-1&as_qdr=all&q=%22speed+limit%22+++autobahn+study+germany+statistics&btnG=Pesquisa+Google&lr=

---

Clarification of Answer by thx1138-ga on 25 Jul 2002 13:48 PDT

Sorry the formatting of the table didnīt come out as planned.  It
should look like this: (hopefully)
Category           The Netherlands  Germany  Sweden  Australia   USA
  
Accident  
Rate                     0.38         0.67     N/A      0.15     0.63
Accidents per  
vehicle km x 106) 
 
Speed Limits (km/h) 
Freeway                   120       No limit    110      110      105

Thanks THX1138, it was on the dot. :-)

/Lizardnation

The Lasseter Highway in the Northern Territory of Australia has just
had a speed limit of 110kmph imposed; up until recently, it, like many
other N.T. main roads, had an open speed limit.  A major factor in the
road accidents is the number of travellers attempting to cover long
distance at high speeds.  The N.T. Government is also implementing
driver education programs, especially for backpackers and the like,
identifying the risks and making suggestions for safer driving.  Many
people don't fully realise the large distances involved, and the time
necessary to drive between dots on the map.

Stop, revive, survive!
A.

Hello Araminty,

Thank you for the added value comment, Australia is pretty much
unknown in terms of its size the the super long distance averages
people covered in traveling compared to other countries.

/Lizardnation

THX1138 seemed to complain about not having found any figures on non
vehicle-vehicle accidents on German motorways.
On the Autobahn only motorized vehicles with an maximum speed of more
than 60 km/h are allowed, no pedestrian, no bikers.
As there are fences on both sides no animals and no pedestrians can
enter the Autobahn.
Therefore accidents with non-vehicles are very rare.
C.

.....and in relation to the Australian total which is showing as very
low relative to other nations please note that the campaign against
speed is relentless and ever present in Australia including  constant
police patrols, TV ads,  etc. However this varies greatly from state
to state as do the road rules and license conditions, i.e 16 years in
one state but 17 in another and then 18 in another. Also speed limits
in each state is diffeent with most staes allowing a maximum of 110
but the renegade Northern Territory with its own territorian 
goverment has the autobahn principle in place on at least one major
highway of no limit at all and little polic presence also. Of course 
this semi-state is about the same size as  France or if your American
about the size of Alaska with  only around 0.5 million population.
However although I have no figures I have heard that the Northern
Territory experiment of almost no police presence/no speed limitis is
not working too well and is now enduring  accident rates much higher
than the rest of Australia.

 Like the Germans the Northern territorians refuse to accept criticism
and refuse to bring in any change to speed limits or road laws

......... just one more thing. I just noticed that someone else wrote
something in regards Australia and more particularly NT which is in
conflict to what I had written. I may be wrong therefore as my
understanding was that although it was hotly debated the final
decision was to maintain no speed limit. the other comments poster is
probbaly more up to date than me so  sorry for leading you up the
wrong path there.  I am right on thing as you initimated also; 
Australia  is a big place, about the size of all Europe combined
including  Brittain and Scandinavia.