Are you ready for 55 miles per hour speed limits? Will driving at 55 mph save on gasoline, causing a drop in the price of gas? Will 55 mph save lives? The results of current and past studies are mixed.
History of 55 MPH Speed Limits:
Historically, the power to set speed limits belonged to individual states, with some maximum limits as high as 75 MPH. In response to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. Congress and President Richard Nixon imposed a nationwide 55 mph speed limit in 1974. States receiving highway funds were forced to comply as a condition for continued funds. After the oil crisis ended, the 55 mph speed limit was maintained because of the “possible” safety aspect. In 1987 Congress permitted states to raise speed limits to 65 mph on rural Interstate highways and 1988 Congress extended the same 65 mph limit to any rural roads built to Interstate standards.
In 1995 Congress lifted all federal speed limit controls and fully gave the speed limit authority back to the individual states. Now the Congress and Senate are “considering” re-visiting the 55 mph speed limit even though the current maximum speed limits are on average lower than in 1974, the exception being the interstate highways and turnpikes.
Opposition and non-compliance to 55 MPH Speeds:
The 55 mph was wildly unpopular and almost unenforceable. Some reports stated that lowering the speed limit to 55 mph did nothing to lower the price of oil and the United States was importing almost double the amount of oil by the year 1995 as it was in 1974.
The 55 mph speed limit did nothing to encourage people to drive smaller cars or to drive less. The 55 mph limit just forces all drivers to go slower whether they are in gas-guzzling vehicles or in fuel-efficient cars.
Studies done during the 55 mph enforced speed limit had mixed results as to the reduction of traffic deaths during that period. One study showed an increase in fatalities after the first few months of the lower speed limit.
One Good Result (for sure):
During the period of the mandatory 55 mpg speed limit I owned a vehicle that had a LED readout of my average gas mileage. After many years of experience with that readout, there was no doubt that driving slower speeds saves on fuel. As speeds increased in increments of 5 mph the gas mileage average took a severe drop. Another obvious factor was the “jack rabbit starts and stops” which would throw the LED readout almost into convulsions!
Conclusion:
Whether the Congress and Senate will “do something for me for my own good” is yet to be seen. It is questionable as to whether or not the 55 mph mandatory speed limit will solve anything, once again. It may not be the 65 mph or 75 mph is the problem, but how quickly that speed is attained! We can do this (if we wish) without the government telling us we must.
