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It would be more useful if the statistics were accompanied by a breakdown of causes.
I would tend to blame distracted driving more than increased speed limits, however, the State Legislature here mandated increasing speed limits on interstate highways inside congested urban areas to 70 mph a few years ago, against the advice of experts. It is very difficult to merge into heavy traffic when it is going by at 70 or faster and the best you can make at the end of a steep onramp is 55 or 60.
Rural speeds are a different matter. Most rural freeways in the state are posted at 80 mph, which is fine with me -- and the experts. When I was a kid, it took 11 hours to drive between Salt Lake City and St. George. Now, you can drive it easily in less than half the time and much more safely (thank-you Pres. Eisenhower). I do miss stopping in Fillmore for dinner.
It could also be that more people are driving more frequently and further because of the generally lower gas prices.
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