Internationally, Interstate-like highways (also called freeways or motorways) have consistently lower fatality rates than other roads. Data for 1997 from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is summarized (and converted from kilometers to miles) below. I obtained European speed limits from the German Environmental Office (they're whining in English about higher fuel consumption, etc., at higher speeds.)
|
Country |
Overall Fatality Rate |
Motorway Fatality Rate |
Maximum Posted Motorway Speed Limit |
|
Austria |
2.61 |
1.34 |
81-mph (130 km/h) |
|
Belgium |
2.66 |
1.15 |
75-mph (120 km/h) |
|
Czech Republic |
7.94 |
1.85 |
68-mph (110 km/h) |
|
Denmark |
1.94 |
0.58 |
62-mph (100 km/h) |
|
Finland |
1.64 |
0.68 |
75-mph (120 km/h) |
|
France |
2.66 |
0.92 |
81-mph (130 km/h) |
|
Germany |
2.24 |
0.81 |
81-mph (130 km/h) advisory |
|
Ireland |
2.12 |
1.20 |
|
|
Japan |
2.48 |
0.81 |
62-mph (100 km/h) |
|
Netherlands |
1.65 |
0.52 |
75-mph (120 km/h) |
|
Switzerland |
1.83 |
0.58 |
75-mph (120 km/h) |
|
United Kingdom |
1.31 |
0.41 |
70-mph |
|
USA |
1.65 |
0.89 |
65- to 75-mph, varying among the 48 contiguous States |
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November 28, 1999