What type of impact is expected from raising the speed limit from 55 to 60 mph on crashes and injuries?

Raising the speed limit from 55 to 60 mph is generally associated with a small impact on crashes and injuries based on research and statistical analyses conducted in traffic safety studies. The increase of 5 mph is considered relatively modest, and while higher speeds do typically lead to higher severity of accidents, the incremental change in speed does not proportionally increase the frequency of accidents or serious injuries.

Traffic safety research often indicates that speed-related crash risks do increase with higher speeds; however, the effects become more notable at larger increments. A speed limit increase of 5 mph may not result in a drastic change in driving behavior or overall traffic conditions. Generally, it can lead to minor increases in travel times and changes in driver perceptions, but these factors tend not to drastically alter the crash statistics when analyzed over larger datasets.

Additionally, local conditions such as road type, traffic density, and enforcement also play a significant role in determining crash outcomes. As such, the small impact related to this specific change is supported by historical data suggesting that slight increases in speed limits tend to yield less pronounced effects compared to larger adjustments or changes in roadway characteristics.