How would you measure success or failure?

[Dave R]

Since the current bill has a sunset clause, it will need to be revisited at a later date (two years, if memory serves) to determine if it was successful or if it failed. I'm curious how speed limit supporters and speed limit opponents would measure success or failure.

Do we measure accident statistics before and after? If so, how do you show improvement if there were no speed related accidents (over the proposed limits) in last two years?

Do we measure success with economic growth in the Winnipesaukee region from the last two years to the next two? That would probably be flawed data due to the general economic state of the whole country.

Do we measure success by boater visits? If so, are more boater visits a success or are less boater visits a success? I think many proponents would prefer fewer boaters, but I'm not sure that's the intent of the NH legislature.

How do we measure failure????

What if there's a high speed (over 45/25) related death after the speed limit is passed? How about a low speed (under 25/45) related death? Would either be considered a failure? It would be hard to argue either as a failure of the law, but to not do so would be to say that the speed limit is irrelevant. You certainly couldn't call either scenario a success...