Study Suggests Higher Freeway Speed Limits = More Deaths

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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A new study suggests that higher speed limits on freeways are causing more deaths across the country.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is out with a study that blamed 1900 deaths on higher speed limits in 2013. They say that basically cancels out the number of lives saved by frontal airbags that year.

The limits were raised on many north Texas highways, but TxDots Tony Hartzel says they were set only after careful study.

"The speed limits that are out there right now are reflective of what drivers are using and following. They are reflective of reasonable and prudent speed that most people use," says Hartzel.

But when you ask north Texas drivers about the speed limits, you will get different opinions.

"I don't think its too fast. If it's 60 its too slow. Freeways start to get jam packed with cars" says one woman.

But another man says he sees accidents all the time that he blames on speed.

"It's becoming really crazy, especially at night. People are trying to get home and speeding. It's getting crazy."

Most say people will speed regardless of limits.

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