Crashes on some segments of Ohio’s interstate highways have increased significantly since the state raised speed limits in 2013, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Speed limits on sections of Ohio interstates increased to 70 miles per hour in 2013, including parts of I-75, just north of Dayton. The highway patrol’s analysis found accidents rose by 21% percent in those areas.The data is consistent with national trends related to speed limit increases. Astudy by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safetyfound that for each 5 mile per hour increase in speed limit, traffic fatalities rose 4 percent.
Lt. Craig Cvetan, spokesperson for The Ohio Highway Patrol, says high speed travel can be hazardous.
“As people go faster, they don’t increase their reactionary gap between them and vehicles in front of them," said Cvetan. "And also, when there’s an increase in speed there’s a decrease in your time to react to events.”
Cvetan said the patrol is still researching other reasons for the accident increases, including violation enforcement rates, weather, and changes to traffic flow.
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