CRASHES COST MORE THAN STATES REALIZE

This article discusses recent changes in the dollar value assigned to a fatality caused by a highway related accident. Stating that the highway safety field places too low a value on injury and fatality reduction, the value of life figures used by various Federal agencies are compared with those that have generally been used in State and local highway policy discussions. It is pointed out that the values in highway policy discussions are based on a different methodology than is used in other health and safety decision making. A table is provided that shows FHWA recommended values since June 1988.