mskutnick posted on November 30, 2010 12:50
A study conducted by the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Department reveals positive effects from the lowered speed limit along Hwy 49.
The study focused on the portion of Hwy 49 between Millbrook Road and Z-max Boulevard, and compared the last 12-month period of the 45-mph zone with the first 12-month period of the reduced speed limit, 35 mph. Only collisions occurring within the stated region were considered. Those collisions were classified as either property-damage-only accidents or accidents with personal injury.
From November 2008 to October 2009, 25 total accidents occurred within the studied zone -- 16 accidents only involved property damage, 9 accidents incurred personal injury.
The speed limit was reduced from 45 mph to 35 mph and posted in late October 2009.
The following year, from November 2009 to October 2010, showed a decrease in the number of total accidents to 18. Fifteen of those were property-damage-only accidents -- a decrease of one to the previous year. The slight change in property damage accidents, said Sgt. M. Daniel Harless, "may or may not be attributable to the lowered speed limit."
However, the speed limit reduction may have significantly affected personal-injury accidents, which decreased by six. Only three such accidents were reported following the speed limit reduction, creating a 66 percent decrease in injury-related accidents.
Overall, the total number of accidents decreased by 28 percent.
The Sheriff's Department reported no collisions resulting in fatalities for either 12-month period.