Would Lower Speed Limits in Los Angeles Reduce Car Accidents?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Driving too fast can cause car accidents.  The faster any vehicle is driving at the time of an crash, the more severe the injuries suffered by everyone involved.  And recently, more people have been driving faster and more fatal accidents are occurring as a result.  In California, the way speed limits were chosen had some flaws that may have unintendedly inflated speed limits to be higher.  Why?  California speed limits were set based on traffic surveys which measured how fast drivers traveled on any street, regardless of the posted speed limit.  The speed limit would then change based on the speed of the 15% of drivers who drove the fastest. This method of setting speed limits, known as the 85th percentile rule, has been criticized as dangerous and self-defeating.  Raising the speed limit would likely in turn cause drivers to drive faster, which could cause the speed limit to increase yet again during the next traffic survey.  And in general, when using the rule, many more speed limits were raised than lowered, even with some cities in California, including Los Angeles, participating in the Vision Zero plan.  Vision Zero has thus far been unable to lower the number of traffic fatalities in Los Angeles. A new bill recently signed into law, AB 43, aims to allow California cities the option to lower some speed limits without relying on the 85th percentile rule.  Specifically, local governments can opt to set a speed limit 5 mph lower than traffic surveys in areas highly trafficked by pedestrians or designated safety corridors, can set standard speed limits in business districts, can revert to older traffic survey recommendations if the street has not received safety upgrades, and can expand school zones.  AB 43 will take effect next January 1 but may not allow cities to use its provision until June 30, 2024 or a specific online tool is created to deal with driving infractions. See the full news story here. The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth encourages safe driving, which includes traveling at or below the posted speed limit.  Drivers must also be aware of pedestrians, bicyclists, and never drive drunk, drowsy, or distracted.  Our accident attorneys help the victims of car collisions seek medical treatment and financial compensation for their injuries.  We provide free initial consultations and provide a no win no fee guarantee.  Call us today at 888-517-9888 to receive your case evaluation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]