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From: berman@psuvax1.UUCP (Piotr Berman)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: They Can't Drive 55
Message-ID: <1830@psuvax1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 2-Oct-85 17:46:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: psuvax1.1830
Posted: Wed Oct  2 17:46:27 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Oct-85 05:19:43 EDT
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Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ.
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> Most states in the U.S.A. have cracked down on drunk driving with a 
> vengeance in response to public outcry. As a consequence, most people 
> are changing their behavior in response to the severe penalties that 
> result from a DUI or DWI conviction. I've been noticing a related 
> phenomenon lately, however, that has me puzzled.
> 
> We've had a nationwide maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour since
> 1973. As you'll recall, that speed limit was instituted in response to
> the so-called 'energy crisis.' Various arguments supporting the 55 MPH
> speed limit were offered over the years; most of them pointed to
> reduced traffic fatalities as a result of lower highway speeds. 
> 
> Many Americans seem unhappy with the 55 MPH speed limit............
> Ronald Reagan promised that he would do away with the 55 MPH speed limit 
> when he became president......................
> 
> All this suggest several questions ................
> 
>    1. Why has Ronald Reagan abandoned his promised destruction
>       of the 55 MPH speed limit? Why is no one calling him on it?
> 
  He does not drive a car anymore: he uses either helicopter, or a horse.

>    2. Automobiles can be engineered to get good gas mileage at
>       higher speeds, so the original motive behind the limit
>       is not as important as it once was. True or false?
> 
>    3. Are fewer lives REALLY lost on our highways due to the
>       lower speed limit? What about interstate highways as
>       opposed to secondary roads?
> 
>    4. Finally, it seems to me that Americans are by and large
>       IGNORING the 55 MPH limit and driving as fast as they want
>       to on our interstate highways. This is a fairly recent
>       phenomenon. The 'virtual' speed limit on many highways
>       seems to be about 65 MPH, and a sizeable minority seems to
>       be driving at 70 MPH or higher. You're a genuine HAZARD if
>       you attempt to obey the law. When people spot a speed trap,
>       they typically slow down to 60 MPH but I've even seen 
>       situations where the cops would only bust people travelling
>       at 65 MPH+. Why haven't I seen this commented on by the
>       media? Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? If Mr. and
>       Mrs. Joe Average are so keen on law and order, how do they
>       rationalize their selective breaking of this law? And most
>       importantly, doesn't anyone else think the near-hysteria
>       regarding drunk driving is a little hypocritical when NO 
>       ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT THE DAMNED SPEEDERS??
> 
>                             -- Cheers, Bill Ingogly

I am in this country 5 years and I never noticed to many people
on interstates driving below 60 MPH.  Experience shows that you
can afford doing that in "rural" area, where you are not passed
all the time.  65 MPH is 105 kmPH, the speed limit in "metric"
countries is usually 100 kmPH or 110 kmPH, so it would make a
reasonable speed limit.
Currently, I would suggest: do not drive above 55 MPH without
your seatbelts on if you are drunk.


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