General and public opinion about the general speed limits in Finland in 1973–1974

This article analyzes the general opinion (of the population) and the public opinion (of the press) about the general speed limits in Finland during the speed limit experiment of 1973–1976, as well as background and changes of opinions. The results showed: (1) The public opinion on speed limits has been more negative than the general opinion. (2) Negative attitudes toward speed limits are connected to at least three side issues — right-wing ideology, motoring as sport, and speed limits as a threat to one's own traffic behavior. (3) The significant decrease in traffic accidents during the speed limit experiment acted as a pressure of facts that rapidly increased the number of supporters of speed limits. (4) Comparison with other studies showed no great differences in support of speed limits among the countries of Europe. In West Germany, however, the public opinion about speed limits was more negative than in Finland.