Data, Facts & Statistics

Data

  • Posted Highway Speed Limits Rise
    During the last decade daytime speed limits posted for automobiles along many Interstate System and non-Interstate routes rose. By 1993, an estimated 32,600 miles had been posted at 65 mi/h and 200 miles at 60 mi/h; this rose to about 64,900 miles posted at 65 mi/h and 19,100 miles at 60 mi/h by 2000. By 1995, an estimated 1,800 miles had been signed at 75 mi/h and 4,000 miles at 70 mi/h; this rose to about 7,400 miles signed at 75 mi/h and 40,900 miles at 70 mi/h by 2000.

  • Speed Campaign Toolkit
    The intent of this tool kit is to provide you with marketing materials, earned media tools, and marketing ideas you can distribute to fit your local needs and objectives while at the same time partnering with other states, communities, and organizations all across the country on your speed management program.

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Facts & Statistics

The FHWA Safety Office has created an exhibit that looks at speeding statistics from a roadway perspective. Five different handouts complement the exhibit, and each uses statistical data to underscore aspects of the consequences of speeding. To view the exhibit and accompanying handouts, click on the pdf files below.

  • Fatality Rate by Road Function Class Table [PDF, 18KB]

Recently, the U.S. DOT Speed Management Team has updated the exhibit with additional handouts. The new exhibit addresses a more integrated "3-Es" (engineering, education, and enforcement) approach to speed management. In addition to the existing handouts, the new handouts present traffic safety facts related to speeding. Other handouts include information related to commercial vehicle safety, and speeding-related multi-vehicle fatal crashes involving large truck.

To view the handout presenting traffic safety facts related to speeding, click on the pdf file below:

  • Traffic Safety Facts: Speeding - 2007 [PDF, 272 KB]
  • Analysis of Speeding-Related Fatal Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes (June 2005) [PDF 1.19 MB]

To view the handouts containing information on commercial vehicle safety, click at the links below:

  • Share the Road Safely: Professional Drivers [PDF 190 KB]
  • Share the Road Safely: Smart Drivers [PDF 131 KB]

The following chart shows fatality rates classified by functional category:

Fatality Rates by Road Type 2007 [Fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel], Interstate 0.70, Arterial 1.38, Collector 1.99, Local 1.94

Fatality Rates by Road Type Rural versus Urban (2007) [Fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel], Rural Interstate 1.04, Arterial 2.23, Collector 2.79, Local 3.18; Urban Interstate 0.58, Arterial 0.99, Collection 0.82, Local 1.32

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Program Contact

Guan Xu

202-366-5892

What’s New

Methods and Practices for Setting Speed Limits: An Informational Report

Highlights

Procedures for Setting Advisory Speeds on Curves

State Practices to Reduce Wet Weather Skidding Crashes

Speed Concepts: Informational Guide

Speed Management Information Resources

USLIMITS 2 : Expert system for recommending speed limits based on NCHRP Project 3-67

Analysis of Speeding-Related Crashes (PDF 594 KB)

Engineering Countermeasures for Reducing Speeds: A Desktop Reference of Potential Effectiveness

Traffic Safety Facts: Speeding - 2007 (PDF 272 KB)

USLIMITS Expert Speed Zoning Advisor (PDF 2.37 MB)