Commiftee on Injury and Poison Prevention
0
The 55 Miles Per Hour MaximumSpeed Limit
The first significant reduction in three decades
in the number of highway deaths was noted in this
country when the 55 miles per hour (mph) national
speed limit became law in 1973. Where this speed
limit is still in force, the reduction in automobile
deaths and injuries has been maintained.
In 1987, however, Congress passed the Surface
Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance
Act. One of the provisions of this act was to allow
states to raise the speed limit on most rural inter
state highways to 65 mph. Because the average
highway speed routinely exceeds the prevailing le
gal limit by at least several miles per hour,' the
higher speed limit has markedly increased the pro
portion of traffic traveling at very high speeds.2 In
1988, 3 times as many vehicles were exceeding 70
mph and 11 times as many vehicles were traveling
at speeds greater than 80 mph as in 1986 when the
55 mph speed limit prevailed.2 These higher speeds
have been accompanied by appreciable increases in
automobile crash deaths and injuries.3'4 The rela
tionship of automobile mortality and morbidity to
the speed limit is well documented.5'6 The American
Academy of Pediatrics endorses a return to the
national maximum speed limit of 55 mph as an
effective method of lowering the incidence of auto
mobile deaths and injuries. Pediatricians should
make every effort to support this form of injury
prevention by personal example, education of pe
diatric patients and their parents, and legislative
advocacy.
COMMIrFEE ON INJURY AND
PREVENTION, 1990 to 1991
POISON
Mark D. Widome, MD, MPH, Chair
William E. Boyle Jr, MD
Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, MD, MPH
Murray L. Katcher, MD, PhD
Sylvia H. Micik, MD
George C. Rodgers Jr, MD, PhD
Liaison Representatives
Gerard M. Breitzer, DO, American Col
lege of Osteopathic Pediatricians
John S. O'Shea, MD, Ambulatory Pedi
atric Association
Juan Rodriguez, MD, MPH, Centers for
Disease Control
Peter Scheidt, MD, MPH, National In
stitute of Child Health and Human De
velopment
Richard Stanwick, MD, Canadian Pae
diatric Society
0
Section Liaisons
Joseph J. Tepas III, MD, Section on Sur
gary
Susan B. Tully, MD, Section on Pediatric
Emergency Medicine
REFERENCES
1. FARS data identify hazardous vehicles: speed a factor. In
surance Institute for Highway Safety Status Report.
1979;14(8):9
2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says
higher speeds boost deaths by 21 percent. Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety Status Report. 1989;24(12):6—7
3. Baum HM. Motor vehicle crash fatalities in the second year
ofthe 65 MPH speed limits. J SafRes. 1990;21:1-8
This statement has been approved by the Council on Child and
Adolescent Health.
The recommendations in this publication do not indicate an
exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical
care. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances,
may be appropriate.
PEDIATRICS (ISSN 0031 4005). Copyright ©1991 by the
American Academy of Pediatrics.
4. Wagenaar
AC,
Streff
FM,
Schultz
RH.
Effects
of the
65
MPH speed limit on injury morbidity and mortality. Accid
Anal Prey. 1990;22:571—585
5. Seat belts, 55 mph saves lives. In: American Academy of
Pediatrics Accident Prevention Committee Newsletter. Ev
anston, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 1976-1977:9
6. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Accident
and Poison Prevention. The 55 miles per hour maximum
speed limit. Pediatrics. 1981;67:304
0
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PEDIATRICSVol. 88 No. 3 September1991
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PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it
has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked by the
American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007.
Copyright © 1991 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print ISSN: 0031-4005.
Online ISSN: 1098-4275.
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The 55 Miles Per Hour Maximum Speed Limit
Pediatrics 1991;88;654
The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on
the World Wide Web at:
/content/88/3/654
PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication,
it has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked
by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village,
Illinois, 60007. Copyright © 1991 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. All rights reserved. Print
ISSN: 0031-4005. Online ISSN: 1098-4275.
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