In the past, when there was no highway speed limit, the highway accident rate increased yearly, peaking a decade ago  At that time, the speed limit on highways was set at 90 kilometers per hour (kph) (55 miles per hour)  Every year since the introduction of the highway speed limit, the highway accident rate has been at least 15 percent lower than that of its peak rate
Thus, setting the highway speed limit at 90 kph (55 mph) has reduced the highway accident rate by at least 15 percent
In the years prior to the introduction of the highway speed limit, many cars could go faster than 90 kph (55 mph).