§NHTSA
then sponsored misinformation efforts to discredit and dilute the influence of engineering practices. The following in part describes the nature and rational for this after the Martin
Parker study (Effects of Raising and Lowering Speed Limits on Safety) was first circulated in 1991, and held from publication until the author changed the conclusion in 1995, to
conform.
¥ 1995 Federal Register (NHTSA comment):
¥ ÒThe agencies have
not adopted West Virginia's suggestion to include a statement that enforcement funding be preceded by engineering evaluations of existing
speed limits. To do so would hinder enforcement efforts, based on a blanket presumption that
existing speed limits are not reasonable.
The agencies are neither willing to accept
that presumption nor to place conditions on enforcement efforts, which we view as a vital tool for effective speed control.Ó
§Thus,
for more than a decade the USDOT reference base in this field has been severely compromised and is incredible, including
the source content of TRB Special Report 254 and USLIMITS