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| No | 66% | 230 votes | Total: 347 votes | |
| Yes | 34% | 117 votes |
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Add to FavoritesA majority of people just won't drive 55! Just like the song, when there is an open highway, and even when there is traffic, driving 55 is ancient history. It didn't work well in the 70's, and it certainly won't work well now. Cars are built better, they can travel faster with smooth operations, and roads are better equipped to handle higher speeds.
Some in congress are proposing to revert back to 55 to save energy, and I believe this is the wrong way to go. There are better ways to save energy than this antiquated method of driving. Concentrate on better gas mileage, better fuels and electric or hybrid vehicles and we can ween ourselves off of imported oil. We have to do this now, not some hazy time in the future, but now. To force people to drive slower smacks of big brother, besides we have enough laws already. In fact, we can't enforce the laws we already have adequately now.
Lowering the national speed limit to 55 will cause more traffic accidents than prevent them. Don't believe this? Well, first off, most people will not travel 55. That is a fact. The next time you are on the freeway, drive the posted speed limit. See how many people pass you and you will be amazed. If you think speeds posted at 55 on major highways will help, think again. They won't even drive the 65, let alone 55. But there will be people who attempt to do so. That is where the problem lies. It is a fact that the difference between high and low speeds cause accidents. The roads will become a killing field.
Better driver education, more enforcement of drinking and driving, and safer vehicles and roads all help to counter road fatalaties. Also, energy consumption has gotten better and better with safer and lighter vehicles. Better design such as stronger brakes and body frames countering impacts coupled with airbags have helped reduce accidents and have kept people safer. Speed in itself is not the problem, differing speeds are. If we lower the speed limits, our accident rate will go up, not down.
It is foolish and shortsighted on some people in congress to revert back to driving 55 miles per hour. Do everything you can to stop this movement, because it has disaster written all over it. If your lawmakers are pushing this insane measure, call them and have it stopped. Email them, tell everyone you know that you disagree with this measure and spread the word. It has to be nipped in the bud in the beginning so it doesn't have a chance to spread. It is a dangerous proposal.
Right now, states have the right to set their own speed limits and it should stay that way. Each state knows it's own roads and people better than the government and that is the first step to a smoother and safer transportation system. Let's keep it this way.
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Yes
Should U.S. National Speed Limits Revert Back To 55 Miles Per Hour? Of course they should! Will they? I doubt it very much.
As has been noted in other excellent articles presented here, the 55 mile per hour speed limit was tried before, in 1974. The 55 miles per hour law was a laughing matter. It was violated by millions of drivers. It was detested. It was not enforced by the authorities. It was a farce.
What is it that causes people to act against their own interests? I believe that it is a question of immaturity and selfishness.
What can be expected of people who ignore basic care of their own health, the need to maintain proper body weight and to perform regular exercise so that they will have a better chance of enjoying a healthy life, but instead wolf down junk food and sugar laden soft drinks and plump their fat bottoms down in front of TV's or video games for hours and hours each day? Most people are immature slobs. Their attitudes regarding driving reflect this.
Doing what is good for us as individuals and what is good for the country and the world requires some maturity. It is well documented that reduced speeds require less energy and result in fewer lost lives and less expense related to accidents.
The 1974 law was a failure because it was not observed. It seems certain that any such law now would also be very unpopular and that it would not be observed by many citizens and would not be enforced by many authorities.
Americans don't like to be told what to do. They hold freedom to be paramount even when such freedom is injurious to themselves and to others.
It has been well demonstrated that lower speeds promote both fuel efficiency and safety. Numerous scientific studies have so demonstrated.
What is the best or ideal maximum speed limit? I cannot locate any convincing report dealing with this subject. Is it 55 miles per hour? I don't know. It appears as though more study is needed in this area.
We, as citizens and taxpayers, have the right and indeed the obligation to determine the rules and regulations which apply to the use of our public streets, roads and highways. If a majority of the citizens want maximum limits of 80 miles per hour on limited access freeways in rural areas, then that is what should prevail, no matter how shortsighted, immature, wasteful and selfish that limit would be.
It seems to me that those drivers who love the thrill of driving at very high speeds should take their vehicles to a race track and pay for the privilege of driving there. I hope that they will refrain from using public roads. My kids might be out there!
For those of us who believe that speed limits should be lowered, it seems to me that the only hope for progress toward this end is through education. This education should start in the first few years of elementary school. Kids are always interested in cars. Responsible attitudes regarding vehicles should be taught to them when they are very young.
We can do better as a people. We should grow up!
Learn more about this author, Lj Jaime Cordle.
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