The Nation - News from Oct. 10, 1989

Traffic deaths jumped an average of 15% during the last two years on rural portions of interstate highways in states that raised the speed limit from 55 m.p.h. to 65 m.p.h., according to a new study. The study, conducted by researchers from Harvard and Carnegie Mellon universities for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, found that the death rate varied from state to state. Rural interstate deaths increased 53.7% in Washington state; 45.4% in Arizona; 43.3% in Iowa and 42.3% in Minnesota and 41.2% in Mississippi. Other states actually saw their rural interstate death rate drop despite adopting the higher speed limit.