"Speed kills" in 1920? Did it?
Discussion
Just saw the following article from the BBC website via http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1076541.stm
It relates to deaths on the road in 2000.
These two sentences for me really say it all about how the "speed kills" thing is a load of b@lls:
"...Last year, 3,423 people were killed on the roads, two more than in 1998.
The rate is well below that in the 1920s, when there were one million cars on the roads, compared to 20 million today..."
So, given that cars were not exactly quick in the 1920s, how come "speed kills"? I'd have thought that there may be other factors or is that thinking too deeply?
(PS I appreciate that 1920s cars were not as safe in an accident and that there are other factors such as state of roads, although ours are crumbling away.)
It relates to deaths on the road in 2000.
These two sentences for me really say it all about how the "speed kills" thing is a load of b@lls:
"...Last year, 3,423 people were killed on the roads, two more than in 1998.
The rate is well below that in the 1920s, when there were one million cars on the roads, compared to 20 million today..."
So, given that cars were not exactly quick in the 1920s, how come "speed kills"? I'd have thought that there may be other factors or is that thinking too deeply?
(PS I appreciate that 1920s cars were not as safe in an accident and that there are other factors such as state of roads, although ours are crumbling away.)
james_j said:You may have hit upon something... there were no speed limits in 1920s! QED Speed Limits Kill!
Just saw the following article from the BBC website via http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1076541.stm
It relates to deaths on the road in 2000.
These two sentences for me really say it all about how the "speed kills" thing is a load of b@lls:
"...Last year, 3,423 people were killed on the roads, two more than in 1998.
The rate is well below that in the 1920s, when there were one million cars on the roads, compared to 20 million today..."
So, given that cars were not exactly quick in the 1920s, how come "speed kills"? I'd have thought that there may be other factors or is that thinking too deeply?
(PS I appreciate that 1920s cars were not as safe in an accident and that there are other factors such as state of roads, although ours are crumbling away.)
MC
Sure, there are other reasons. That was the point of my message.
As can be clearly seen, there has been a dramatic reduction in the accident rate since the 1920s, despite the great increase in the average speed of motorised travel. In other words, there is more to accidents than speed alone.
As can be clearly seen, there has been a dramatic reduction in the accident rate since the 1920s, despite the great increase in the average speed of motorised travel. In other words, there is more to accidents than speed alone.
no one ever said 'only' speed kills. Gov stats will tell you only around 25% (or thereabouts) of accidents are 'speed related' and IIRC a lot less (10%?) are 'directly' related speed.
So you ask why are the Gov so hung up on the speed thing? I dunno, but i would guess its one of the things they can do something about fairly easily..
Personally I think the driving test should be harder and every 5-10 years.
So you ask why are the Gov so hung up on the speed thing? I dunno, but i would guess its one of the things they can do something about fairly easily..
Personally I think the driving test should be harder and every 5-10 years.
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