The issue of speed limits has always been a hot and controversial topic that has generated heated debates between various actors in society. It is always a confrontation between car owners versus pedestrians, local government versus local businesses. One needs to do their own research and come up with their own verdict to choose the right side. This paper will evaluate the positive and negative effects of lower speed limits.
Argument For and Argument Against
It is no secret that people’s lives, their physical and mental health matter the most. A vast number of people both in the United States and globally die from car crashes. Researchers note that “tach year, 1.35 million people are killed on roadways around the world” (Road traffic injuries and deaths, 2020, para. 4). Study shows that there is not only a correlation but also causation between lower speed limits and car crashes. According to Zhang and Musabbir (2021), “research generally shows that lower speed limits reduce the frequency and severity of crashes” (p. 1). However, lower speed limits hurt local economies and small businesses in particular (Zhang & Musabbir, 2021). It slows down the development of infrastructure and encourages the replacement of small firms with large corporations.
Conclusion
A person’s life and well-being are undoubtedly more important than the economic benefits of companies. The authorities can compensate for the financial losses incurred by small and local businesses resulting from lower speed limits, while human life cannot be returned from the dead. Therefore, one can conclude that lower speed limits are more beneficial to society both in the short and long term. However, the latest trends in this area show that the authorities have taken the side of business.
References
Road traffic injuries and deaths — A global problem. (2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Zhang, M., & Musabbir, S. R. (2021). Raising truck speed limits in California could increase mobility but may also increase crashes [Policy brief]. Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis. Web.