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The US Once Imposed a 55 MPH Speed Limit. Should We Do It Again?
Less gas, fewer fatalities
In 1984, Sammy Hagar famously belted out “I Can’t Drive 55” over radio dials. This song is the quintessential 80s tune and was likely some people’s song of the summer during the middle part of the decade. Younger people today might think that “I Can’t Drive 55” was just some clever rhyming, but it was talking about the national speed limit at the time, which was just 55 miles per hour (mph.)
In the 1970s, the United States got a wake up call regarding its dependence on Middle Eastern oil. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed in 1960 to help control the supply of oil on the world market to influence prices, and by the 1970s they were ready to flex their muscles.
Due to a series of price manipulation moves and an outright embargo, oil quadrupled in price in the waning days of 1973. Oil rose from $2.30 per barrel to $11.65 in just three months. This price shock caused politicians to scramble for a solution and for Americans to do some soul searching.
In the midst of the oil crisis, Richard Nixon signed The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, which capped the speed limit on all roads to 55 mph. States were encouraged to comply with and enforce the new law by having it tied to a state’s federal highway funding.
A 55 mph speed limit would save precious oil and petroleum. It would also make the roads safer. Or so they said.
The United States is in a similar situation today. People are concerned about the climate. The price of oil is through the roof. The roads feel more dangerous than ever before. This raises the question as to whether or not the United States would benefit from a 55 mph speed limit yet again. And if Americans have the spine to sacrifice a little bit to gain a little bit.
The National Maximum Speed Law
Interestingly enough, at the time, many states had speed limits that were actually lower than 55 mph as of January 1974. In these cases, the national law actually raised the speed limit up to 55 mph. Today, many speed limits are far higher, with typical highway speeds ranging between 60 mph and 75 mph.
