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Automotive News & Views Should the US government bring back the 55 mph max speed limit again?
1418 messages, Last post on Dec 16, 2008 at 11:21 AM
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Dec 14, 2008 6:59 pm) The real story here is that a similar drop occurred during the first fuel crisis in 1974, and it was credited to the enactment of the nationwide 55 mph speed limit. But 34 years later, a drop of similar magnitude occurs, without any change in the speed limit, but during another big run-up in gasoline prices. Which suggests that the drop in 1974 was due to other factors, not the enactment of the 55 speed limit. And, on an anecdotal level, I've noted that while traffic volume is down on major highways, people are not slowing down. After Thanksgiving, we traveled on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and most people were driving 75 mph. I kept the speed at 65 mph (the speed limit) as a test for a few miles, and we were passed by virtually everyone. So, people are driving LESS (gasoline usage and miles driven are both down for the year, if I recall correctly), but they aren't slowing down on limited access highways when they do drive. cdn_tch: So every death that can be prevented, should be. Lest you be the one delivering or have delivered to you the sad news that someone you care for is never coming home. Only problem is that imposing an arbitrary and too-low speed limit on limited access highways is a waste of money and law enforcement resources, and won't do anything to prevent deaths.
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Replying to: grbeck (Dec 15, 2008 12:14 pm) But 34 years later, a drop of similar magnitude occurs, without any change in the speed limit, but during another big run-up in gasoline prices. Which suggests that the drop in 1974 was due to other factors, not the enactment of the 55 speed limit. In '74 some of the enforcement was draconian. so people did slow down then. Also when there are fewer vehicles on the road, the lower congestion will also improve safety. I kept the speed at 65 mph (the speed limit) as a test for a few miles, and we were passed by virtually everyone. No you were not. You were only passed by those who were doing at least 75 because at a speed less than that they would not be able to catch and pass you within the few minutes you were doing 65!
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Dec 15, 2008 12:44 pm) my guess is not many.
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Replying to: cdn_tch (Dec 15, 2008 12:44 pm) Enforcement didn't become much stricter until the Carter administration, when states were required to prove that a certain percentage of drivers were obeying the 55 mph speed limit, or lose part of their federal highway money. The Carter administration didn't begin until January 1977. It has also been repeatedly shown that lowering speed limits on limited access highways has little or no effect on how fast most people drive. The only thing it does is increase speed variance between the fastest drivers and the slower ones, who obey the speed limit. cdn_tch: No you were not. You were only passed by those who were doing at least 75 because at a speed less than that they would not be able to catch and pass you within the few minutes you were doing 65! We were initially traveling at 65 mph. We passed NO ONE. We were passed by a steady stream of vehicles. When we sped up to 75 mph, we were going with the flow of traffic...although we were passed by a few cars driving 80 mph and over. We also passed only one or two cars. We did pass a few tractor trailers. Using the principles of logical reasoning, based upon observation, one could conclude that most people are driving 75 mph - at least on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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Replying to: grbeck (Dec 16, 2008 6:56 am)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Dec 15, 2008 4:32 pm) This was a trip of about 55 miles. |
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Replying to: ruking1 (Dec 16, 2008 8:34 am) If you can't drive at least 70 mph on a limited access highway in good weather, then stay home. This is 2008, not 1938.
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Replying to: grbeck (Dec 16, 2008 11:17 am) |
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