Comparing the years before and after the increase in the Federal limit to 65 mph in 1987, the fatality rate dropped by 3.5% lower on all roads in the 40 states that raised freeway limits than in the 10 that didn't. Some of the benefits came from drivers switching to faster, safer interstates from dangerous country roads. Thus, analysts who ignored the non-interstates and who used total fatalities instead of rates reached the opposite conclusion. Since limits were raised from 55 to 65, the national fatality rate has declined by 34%.