Should the federal government bring back the 55 mph speed limit?

Question

We had it back in the mid-70s in response to the oil embargo. Nowadays with gas prices so high, it makes sense to bring it back. When Bill Clinton repealed the law in 1995, gas was at about $1.09 a gallon. Times are much different now, obviously.

Here are some of the arguments I've heard against this:

1. "People won't comply with it" (well then, start handing out more tickets, and increase the fines, and then that'll teach people)

2. "States may ignore it" (well then do what the Nixon administration did, and withhold federal highway funds from the states if they don't enforce it)

3. "People will be late" (that's their problem for not leaving the house early enough)

Even with gas prices so ridiculously high, most Americans don't seem too interested in slowing down to conserve gas, even as they b-tch about the high cost at the pumps.

Conservation is something Americans just don't have in them. So we need to be forced. It's for our own good.

Answer 1

NO

leave the limit alone its bad enough people dont do 65 in a 65 (on i95 almost every lane is 65)

i can see why they want it but just leave it alone. in fact i wish they would make the national speed 65.

i guess they didnt hear that song (i cant drive 55).

Answer 2

I think a reduced speed limit might not be a bad idea, but I'm not sure it needs to be as low as 55 mph.  60 or 65 might work as well.  

Before picking a speed, it would be a good idea to look at how cars are engineered and see just what are the economical speeds.

I usually cruise mine somewhere between 60 and 65 mph already so this wouldn't be a great inconvenience to me.

In 1974 I traded a gas-guzzling Oldsmobile that was getting 10 mpg for a Toyota sedan that got 18-20 mpg.  It was a good step up.

My current car is a Chrysler PT Cruiser that has never gotten less than 24 mpg and has gotten as high as 28 mpg cruising at the current limits.

I hope a speed limit is chosen with advice from engineers as well as politicians.

Answer 3

People won't comply with it, and cops want to have better things to do than play nurse maid with the public. Lord knows the 'ticket institution' is already a business in my home town. End of the month comes...watch the **** out! 37 in a 35? Ticket for you, sir.

Besides, we're in the land of 'faster, bigger and stronger.' There's places in Texas with 85mph speed limits. I want to see you go door to door and tell them they're now limited to 55.

Answer 4

Yes. To conserve energy. There is a big difference between 65 mph and 55 mph in fuel consumption. The highways will be safer as well.

Answer 5

There is a hidden cost of increased labor for transportation also. Production delays because of  idled workers because material is not on hand.

As for forcing conservation, it does not work. Morality legislation like this will only keep the police busy doing things that not as important for domestic tranquility and the common defense.

It did not work the first time, it will not work the second time either.

So just back off of your high moral attitude!