What is the expected impact on severity of crashes from a 5mph increase in speed limit?

A 5mph increase in speed limit is expected to have a negligible impact on the severity of crashes. While higher speeds can potentially lead to more severe outcomes in certain circumstances, the incremental increase of just 5mph does not dramatically alter the dynamics of vehicle collisions. Research has shown that while speed does play a role in crash severity, the specific increase in this case is not substantial enough to trigger a significant change.

Other factors such as driver behavior, road conditions, vehicle safety features, and traffic density often have a more pronounced effect on crash severity compared to a small increase in the speed limit. Therefore, the assertion that there is no significant change reflects the understanding that, while speed is a factor, the overall impact from such a slight rise is limited.