by AngelaCharles

Created on: May 06, 2010

Why some highways have minimum speed limit requirements

We have all heard the term, Sunday drive.  But have you ever wondered where the term originated?  Believe it or not, it started in the 1920’s when less than 10% of American’s owned a car and having one was more of a hobby then a necessity.  Back then people typically used cars for leisure and a Sunday drive was a slow ride around the square. 

Times are much different today.  People get in their car with a destination in mind and are always in a hurry to get there.  With the development of super highways and interstates designed just for that, the department of transportation was forced to put minimum speed limit requirements on highways. 

Could you imagine driving on the intestate, cruise set at a typical 68 miles per hour and coming up on a “Sunday Driver” coasting along at 35 or 45 miles per hour?  This would be very dangerous and has honestly caused numerous accidents.  Interstates were designed for speed, making minimum speed limit requirements mandatory. 

Minimum speed limits were created to keep people safe.  While most people have enough common sense to know that driving 35 on a busy highway is unsafe, some don’t.  That’s the rationale to most laws.  They were created for the minority.  Those people who don’t always understand right from wrong.  You would think most people know not to throw your litter out your window when you are driving down the highway, but unfortunately they don’t.  Hence the signs telling people,  “No littering.  $100-$1000 fine.

If you are wondering, “Do people really get ticketed for driving to slow?” the answer is yes.  Officers take minimum speed limits almost as serious as maximum and citations are typically the same.  Driving to slow on a busy highway is just as hazardous as driving too fast.  While you may have more control over your car, people coming up behind you, don’t. 

It’s too bad that people are in such a hurry today.  It would have been great to live in a time where traveling to your destination was as much fun as getting there.   Where Sunday drives were leisure drives around the square and people took the time to enjoy each moment instead of speeding past it.  Unfortunately, we all live in today’s fast paced world, so be safe and obey minimum and maximum speed limit requirements.

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