fornia were 5500 people. However, since the repeal of the NMLS in 1995 the deaths per a year have dropped to only 5200. California is also unique. Since 1959 California's population has doubled and the amount of cars and trucks has nearly tripled (Johnson). Other countries of note that have had raised issues with speed and fatalities in the past are Germany, India, and the Philippines. What do these three countries have in common? The all abolished their speed limits. Although the amount of fatalities in these countries is often higher the amount of miles traveled is substantially higher. As a result of this their death rate per hundred miles is not much more than that of the United States. Germany has also managed to make up for its increase in accidents by creating cars with superior safety from the likes of Volkswagen to Mercedes-Benz. People generally think that with a higher speed limit or no speed limit at all like Germany that motorists will increase their speeds greatly. The misunderstanding that motorists will drive approximately ten to fifteen miles faster than the posted speed limit is generally false. After looking at the 85th percentile this idea becomes clear. In a study performed by an independent group called, "The Society of Automotive Engineers," it was found that people rarely respond to posted speed limits. The SAE found that approximately 85 percent of people do not take into consideration the posted speed limit while driving (Johnson). People drive at what speed they feel is safe and a speed that they feel is comfortable for the existing road conditions. Thus, if there were to be no speed limit at all people would still drive at what speed seems safest to them. The reason that most of these people are said to be speeding is that government sets limits that are often lower than the highest safe speed limit that could be imposed. The dramatic increase in those obeying the speed limit in recent Wisconsin study shows t...
