A health impact assessment of a proposed bill to decrease speed limits on local roads in Massachusetts (U.S.A.).

Peter James,Benjamin Wood,Mariana Arcaya,Jonathan Buonocore,Kate Ito,Rachel Banay

doi:10.3390/ijerph111010269

Abstract

Decreasing traffic speeds increases the amount of time drivers have to react to road hazards, potentially averting collisions, and makes crashes that do happen less severe. Boston’s regional planning agency, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), conducted a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) that examined the potential health impacts of a proposed bill in the state legislature to lower the default speed limits on local roads from 30 miles per hour (mph) to 25 mph. The aim was to reduce vehicle speeds on local roads to a limit that is safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and children. The passage of this proposed legislation could have had far-reaching and potentially important public health impacts. Lower default speed limits may prevent around 18 fatalities and 1200 serious injuries to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians each year, as well as promote active transportation by making local roads feel more hospitable to cyclists and pedestrians. While a lower speed limit would increase congestion and slightly worsen air quality, the benefits outweigh the costs from both a health and economic perspective and would save the state approximately $62 million annually from prevented fatalities and injuries.

Highlights

Motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of death among people aged 5 to 34 in the United States, and a leading cause of injury among all age groups [1]
“functionally classified local roads” that would have been impacted by the Speed Limit Bill
Based on a literature review, case studies, and statistical models, the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) predicted that lowering speed limits on local roads would have had a positive public health impact across Massachusetts, by preventing traffic fatalities and injuries

Summary

Introduction

Motor vehicle crashes are the top cause of death among people aged 5 to 34 in the United States, and a leading cause of injury among all age groups [1]. Consistent evidence over the past century has confirmed that lowering traffic speeds decreases the frequency of crashes, as well as rates of fatalities and injuries due to vehicle collisions. This holds true on urban and residential roads [3,4]. This impacts both individuals traveling in vehicles, as well as pedestrians and cyclists who often share roadways with vehicles.

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