Reversing The Speed Limit Raise in Forestville

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The argument that Forestville should reverse a decision it made six months ago to raise its speed limit by 10MPH due to a 15% rise in accidents because accidents in Elmsford, a neighboring region, declined slightly, is inconclusive. A base line study of traffic pattern disruptions and speed variances in Forestville and Elmsford comparing demographic data, location, rate, and type of accidents for more than six months might determine significant risk factors. Federal studies suggest that accidents rise if speed limits are raised on highways by as much as 5% for each 4 MPH but on moderate speed limit roads, no such relationship exists. Other studies show accidents decrease with a rise in speed limit since artificially low limits also cause accidents. Forestville may have raised its speed limit to mitigate congestion or provide an incentive for drivers to use the highway and there was a proportional rise of cars and accidents on the road. If the regions are interdependent, a shift of traffic out of Elmsford could have cut volume and thus accidents. If, however, cars in each region r...

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