Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Cars

Fact-Checking the Toyota Hearing: Lower Speeds Increase Safety

Megan McArdle at the Atlantic, writing on today's Toyota hearing in the House oversight committee, hears Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood claim that "lowering the speed limit to 30 mph would not save any lives, which is why we have minimum speeds on highways."

lahood.jpgLaHood, at left, with the president at right. (Photo: whitehouse via Flickr)

Leaving aside the gaping logical hole in that statement -- which Robert Mackey of the New York Times suggests (check out the 12:04 post here) may have come from Souder's argument that lower speed limits would save more lives than "100% safe" cars -- there is plenty of research out there pointing to the beneficial effects of lower speeds on safety.

Traffic author Tom Vanderbilt recently cited the impact of 20 mile-per-hour urban speed zones on reducing road injuries in the United Kingdom, and a 2007 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety [PDF] outlined the following "general rule of thumb":

When travel speed increases by 1%, the injury crash rate increases by about 2%, the serious injury crash rate increases by about 3%, and the fatal crash rate increases by about 4%. The same relation holds in reverse: a 1% decrease in travel speed reduces injury crashes by about 2%, serious injury crashes by about 3%, and fatal crashes by about 4%.

Could LaHood be unaware of the relationship between lower speeds and decreased risk of injury? It's certainly possible -- despite the former GOP lawmaker's good record on infrastructure reform and sustainability, both in concept and in practice, he remains a relative newcomer to the nitty-gritty of transportation, as the Times reminded readers in a highly readable profile last year.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Advocates: Congress Must Stop Trump From Illegally Holding Back Sustainable Transportation Funds

Congress has a chance to restore order, seize back their power of the purse, and stop Trump from "pocket-rescinding" hundreds of millions for good transportation projects.

September 26, 2025

Friday Video: You Should Care That Your Car Is Spying On You

Yes, every device we own is probably harvesting our data. But the car might be the worst offender.

September 26, 2025

The State of Friday’s Headlines

Transit agencies from Rhode Island to San Francisco are facing budget shortfalls as a variety of factors create a perfect storm.

September 26, 2025

Revitalizing Cities With Small-Scale Manufacturing

One Rust Belt city is pursuing an innovative strategy to attract economic development and enhance urban livability.

September 26, 2025

The Real Reason the Far Right is Demanding Action on Transportation Violence

A series of brutal deaths on U.S. roads and trains is sparking outrage on the far right – and a push for some disturbing policy solutions that will only make our country more violent.

September 25, 2025

Everyone to Congress: Stand Up and Fight for the Infrastructure Funding You Allocated (And Your Constituents Need)

"The president has made it clear that programs outside the administration’s narrow vision for transportation will not be faithfully implemented," advocates said this week — and it's time for congress to stand up and defend their will.

September 25, 2025
See all posts