| How many of those children, pedestrians, cyclists and even motor cyclists were killed due to speed on a motorway? Not many I suspect, because they don't go there.
Yes you are more likely to kill someone if you hit them at 35 rather than 30, but how many of those killed would not have been due to their own stupidity. How many people do you see crossing a road a few AND I MEAN A FEW yards from a crossing.
Its far too simplistic to blame all on speed. I would love to see an 80 mph limit on motorways. However there are too many car drivers who wander along at 60 oblivious to the traffic around them. They are as likely to be the cause of an accident due to their lack of awareness. They would be less able to cope with those driving at 80, plus the drivers who will go over that limit. So I think it best that the increase does not happen.
I find it interesting that many statistics use the phrases 'speed contributes' and 'involve speeding'. This implies to me that the researchers know damn well that it is not a primary cause, but that they want it to seem so. |