First Fatality Recorded on Nation's Fastest Highway (Who is shocked?)

[Horse with no Name]

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/First-Fatality-Recorded-on-Nations-Fastest-Highway-178940201.html

The driver of a Honda Civic died after a crash with a Chevy Tahoe in the south bound lanes of state Highway 130 Sunday, the first day the newly opened toll road began charging customers, KXAN-TV in Austin reports.

Mustang Ridge police told KXAN the crash happened in the newly opened section of SH130 Toll, where the speed limit is 85 mph.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash and did not say how fast the cars were traveling, but they did confirm that wild hogs were not a factor in the crash. Four accidents involving wild hogs were reported the first night the toll road opened.

[Panasonic]

1. Lots of BBQ stands should spring along the highway

using roadkill hogs... hmmm....

[ceile]

2. not surprised one bit.

85? stupid.

[louis-t]

3. Let's see, wild hogs, freeway, 85 mph.....

what could possibly go wrong?

[Horse with no Name]

4. I know, right?

Those wild hogs can total a car going reasonable speeds.

[pinto]

5. I don't get it. 41 miles. What do you save at 85 mph vs 65 mph, ~9 minutes?

[Gruenemann]

6. The whole thing is 89 miles long...

The 41-mile section was just added to the southern end of an existing toll road.

The toll road avoids Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin, which is a really nasty and dangerous drive. It also bypasses Austin, which can have really bad traffic.

On the downside--aside from the feral hogs--it's a longer trip to go that way, and the toll is not cheap. I won't pay to drive there, even to help the economy of Spain (where the company that built and profits from the road is located.)

[davepc]

7. 22,000 people died in auto accidents in 2010

That one happened on any stretch of highway, regardless of the posted speed limit is statistically unremarkable.

[Glassunion]

9. The number I have is 32,885 in 2010

For the US. My number came from NHTSA.

Where did you get your stat?

[Glassunion]

8. What about the 89 other people that died in auto accidents on Sunday?

[Avalux]

10. Someone dies every single day on a Texas highway.

And people drive 85 mph regardless of the speed limit here. This isn't really big news....