20 MPH, One of the Worst Ideas Ever
After reviewing the facts, it becomes clear that a 20 MPH speed limit would have a negative influence on the campus community. While there is theoretical evidence to suggest a lower speed limit would increase campus safety, empirical evidence suggests that a 20 MPH speed limit would not increase campus safety. Not long ago, campus speed limits were reduced from 30mph to 25mph. Since implementation, we have found no evidence to suggest a decrease in speed related accidents. This fact is more relevant considering the student population has increased. Instead, the speed limit reduction would stifle traffic on campus, a fact University officials have acknowledged. The costs of speed limit reduction do not justify the potential benefits.
I would advocate for more substantive changes. Since most campus pedestrian accidents occur near intersections, we should improve intersection safety. The DI simply missed the entire argument provided by ISS members. Quotes from the meeting were taken completely out of context. In the future, I urge the DI to have an open mind and take part in more responsible journalism.
Hassen Al-Shawaf, Student Senator
Graduate Student
Department of Accountancy
posted by Illinois Student Senate | 5:42 PM
8 Comments:
Hey Einstein,
The lower speed limit was not a multiple choice problem where only one answer is allowed. It was part of a set of safety measures. What makes think the no turning right-on-red would be eliminated if 20 MPH were implemented on blocks around the quad?
well /jd it was a terrible part of a set of safety measures. It needed to go it was like a tumor to the rest of the safety measures. Why even include something that does absolutely nothing to the present situation. Measures that garner only a PC aura instead of one that produces results need to be canceled. And thats what Champaign City Council and the Urbana council did.
I guess committees that investigate the matter are able to pick the out the good apples from the bad ones. The lowered speed limit was a bad apple.
So how fast do you take corners on Sixth and Daniel? Fourth and John? If people don't slow down for peds at these corners then the lower limit makes sense. has nothing to do with PC.
HAHAHA this is funny
Vive la resistance!
ISS is quoted ;-)
"Arguments for lowering speed limits hold validity in situations dealing with reducing highway vehicle-on-vehicle collisions with proposals lowering speed limits from 65 to 55 or 70-65, substantial differences compared to 25-20mph."
85% of the 45,000 automobile deaths last year occurred on non-interstate roads, and nearly half of those were speeding related. So statistically, changing the speed limits on interstates have little or no affect. Changing it on city streets would make a colossal difference.
In much of Europe the speed limit on campuses and in other congested areas is 30 kph or 18 mph. Amsterdam where much of the city is at 18mph has the lowest rate of vehicular /pedestrian incidents on the continent.
Admit is, what the ISS is advocating is reactionary, consumerist, and unprogressive.
"What are the statistics for drunk related deaths, [et al...]"
You can find the answer in this document.
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/ncsa/TSF2004/809915.pdf
hint: most drunk related accidents are also speed related.
***NOTE*** this is a 6-page PDF file and it does take about a minute to download. But it's well worth reading.
Derek: as far as stop signs at intersections go, not all intersections have stop signs... John and Fourth for example is not a four way stop. And where there are stop lights, if a motorist sees Green, he/she may not even slow down to take the corner. The "I have the right-of-way" mentality kicks in.
As far bad weather goes, it's a no brainer to driver slower than the speed limit under certain conditions, but many people simply don't because they drive the speeds they think they are legally allowed to drive. (Again, it's the "My right" mentality.) And then when they do crash or hit someone, speed isn't even considered a factor (which is misleading--it should be considered speeding--but the police go by what the speedometer reads and if it's below the limit, well, it ain't speeding--THE CONDITIONS are rarely factored in if at all.)
European cities serve as a fine model for how lowered limits coupled with other safety measures created safe and livable spaces for everyone. We would do well to adopt their strategies.
I'm not sure I even follow your argument: are you saying that because we don't have as good a public transportation system here we should be allowed to drive faster? That doesn't make any sense.
Maria,
I would argue European and American transportation systems and city planning strategies are fundamentally different.
I would also say the only relevant statistic is how many pedestrians were hit by cars traveling between the speeds of 20mph and 25 mph. Wouldn't you agree?
We should probably also look at some of the externalities associated with lowering the speed limit. A topic I don't fully understand myself.
-Hassen
I would also say the only relevant statistic is how many pedestrians were hit by cars traveling between the speeds of 20mph and 25 mph. Wouldn't you agree?
I wouldn't call it the only relevant statistic. But since you asked--
Literature Review on Vehicle Travel
Speeds and Pedestrian Injuries
Quote from abstract:
"It was estimated that only 5 percent of pedestrians would die when struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 miles per hour or less. This compares with fatality rates of 40, 80, and nearly 100 percent for striking speeds of 30, 40, and 50 miles per hour or more respectively."
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