Support for Car Talk is provided by:	Become a Car Talk Sponsor

Is it time for an FAQ page ?

push starting modern cars?

Safest car colors

DIfferent gas, different MPG

Submit a Car Question

Topic Index > Car Questions > 55 mph...it's time has come.

55 mph...it's time has come.

55 mph national speed limit.....it’s time has come.

There are many arguments against, among which is that people won’t slow down.
Many were raised in the age of the 70 mph speed limit with bigger turnpike cruisers and cheaper gas the norm and we adjusted.
I would argue that today's cars are better prepared for lower speed limits. A 4 cyl Camry gets 10 mpg better at 55 than at 75. That would imply a significant improvement in the 55 to 65 mph comparison.

-There would be less need for the 70 mph cruiser, further encouraging the use of smaller engine cars.
-Fewer traffic fatalities were consistently reported in the 70’s.
-Commuting times in congested areas would be marginally affected and.in many cases, a positive way.
-The cost of conversion, signs etc. is dumped back into the economy with domestic labor.
-Results are instantly achieved, no wait.
-Cars last longer
-Fewer repairs...
-Less road damage
-Eventually, more commuter lanes with higher speeds could encourage mass transit by bus and alternate travel.
-The Yaris, Focus and Fit are right at home.

Would compliance be 100% ? Absolutely not..but neither is it now. Speed limits of 80 mph find people traveling 90 mph. The average speed would be reduced significantly, enough to have a big effect on oil prices..... eventually, I believe, stabilizing the dollar.
Everyone touts the autobahn. The truth is, there MAY be fewer accidents per mile, but they are hugely more spectacular with greater chance of death and serious injury. Plus, the autobahn is a specialized highway with greater thought given to speed and more limited access.

Let’s make an impact NOW. It’s a struggle to come up with many down sides that don’t include the investments many of us have made in our egos.

Posted by: mconn

Virginia decided to contribute to the prison economy by introducing mandatory jail sentences for over speeding. Do you wonder why we have the largest prison population in the world. How many lives will be introduced to life of crime and how much tax payer money will go to the private prison system. The victims of these new laws will be the most disadvantaged people in the society. Instead of paying attention to the sectors of the society where need to pay attention, it pains me to see how many people want to stuff the prisons full because people are speeding. How pathetic. How about spending our money on finding jobs for people who are getting out of prison, we are talking about how can we shove more people in there.

I agree, the only people who will actually go to jail are those who are too stupid or too poor to defend themselves adequately (just like the current drug laws).

"Virginia decided to contribute to the prison economy by introducing mandatory jail sentences for over speeding."

What do you think we should do with criminals? If you go 20 MPH or more over the speed limit, you are a criminal. If we let you go, what other offenses should go unpunished? If you like my car a little to much and steal it, should you be set free just because you don't want to go to jail?

"What do you think we should do with criminals? If you go 20 MPH or more over the speed limit, you are a criminal. If we let you go, what other offenses should go unpunished? If you like my car a little to much and steal it, should you be set free just because you don't want to go to jail?"

Based on that criterion, I don't know anyone over the age of 12 who would be out of jail.

The answer is not incarceration man. It is this incarceration mentality that we have the greatest prison population in the world. There are a lot of ways to deal with speeding like fines and loss of driving privelages. And they are enough no need to cross the line.

"There are a lot of ways to deal with speeding like fines and loss of driving privelages."
The news article I read last week told about a guy who has had his license suspended 39 times. How does "loss of driving privelages" stop habitual offenders? Some people refuse to "see the light" until they see it through prison bars.

other than disagreeing with you that Mom Government should be stepping in and becoming a highway nanny, a number of your reasons for why this should be done are incorrect.

slower speeds do not necarrily mean better fuel economy. my lincoln gets 2-3 mpg better at 75 than 55 and with gas 3-4 bucks a gallon my objective is to spend as little as possible.

causes less road damage? point me to something that can explain how 55 creates less damage than 75.

cars last longer? ditto; explsin how 200k miles of 55 driving causes less wear than 200k of 75 driving.

fewer fatalities with a slower speed limit? not in OK. many groups who think gov. should be the babysitter were screaming to the heavens that deaths would increase when the 55 limit was abolished.
guess what? they did not increase.
the same thing occurred when speed limits were raised in the turnpikes and when the state inspection program was eliminated. much whining about fatalities increasing but it never happened.

what you would see under your scenario would be a highway full of fits, yari, and foci (plural here ;-) ) all going 75 mph.
imagine what the fatality rate is going to do when there's a 14 foci pile-up.

You make some interesting any funny points. It's too bad that the National Trafic Highway Safety Committee disagrees with most of them.

Not that I want to relive the days of competing for air and space at 55mph with my SAAB two stroke and the truckers on the Jersey State Parkway, but safety has never been an argueable point. Nor has car longevity.

I guess we can lower our property taxes with the increase in revenue from speed traps contributed by testosterone driven Lincolns. I'll take that trade....save on oil and pay for education.

What or who is the "National Traffic Highway Safety Committee"?

BTW, NJ does not allow big trucks on parkways.

Oh I see what is it all about. I want your money in my pocket. So I will legislate my way inside your pocket, your life and your freedon.

Thank you for explaining this so eloquently.

And for the footnote, all advances humanity has ever made can be contributed to the people who take risks. Like climbing down from the tree and hunting for food, pioneers who explored the globe and risk takers who fought to tame the skies. Is Testosterone a major part of it yes of course so my good friend Testosterone is not a bad thing. Do risk takers usually have better reflexes yes.

I have been saying that all along, if choose, you can take an advanced driving test and get to go 10-20 MPH over.

Updated: 03/22/2008 05:15:49 PM

"Oh I see what is it all about. I want your money in my pocket. So I will legislate my way inside your pocket, your life and your freedon.

Thank you for explaining this so eloquently.

And for the footnote, all advances humanity has ever made can be contributed to the people who take risks. Like climbing down from the tree and hunting for food, pioneers who explored the globe and risk takers who fought to tame the skies. Is Testosterone a major part of it yes of course so my good friend Testosterone is not a bad thing. Do risk takers usually have better reflexes yes.

I have been saying that all along, if choose, you can take an advanced driving test and get to go 10-20 MPH over."

What?

Why stop at a 55 mph speed limit? If 55 is safe wouldn't 25 be even safer? No need to own anything bigger than a 200 mpg moped at that speed. Cars could have single cylinder engines and even though they are essentially large go-karts, the fatality rate would be low at that speed, especially with government mandated 5 point racing style restraints, Nomex suits, and full face helmets.
But wait! Is this trip really necessary? All trips will have to be reviewed by a government agent and if they are satisfied that the trip is necessary, will give you the 6 digit pass-code you will need to start your car today.
Examples of "necessary" trips would include commuting from your apartment/work collective camp to some official need somewhere else and of course everyone will be allowed to attend that celebration sometime during May when we can all delight at hearing military bands perform patriotic songs and review our "liberators" march by in a solemn goosestep as tanks and guided missile launchers go by.

Well guys, this is fun but we might as well be arguing about repealing gravity (which is only slightly less likely to actually happen).

It's my imagination...and I opologize ahead, but it sounds like the most fearful of lower speed limits are also the 2nd amendment rights; "don't take my gun man from my cold dead hands" buffs.
Speed limits are like gun control. EVERYONE wants it to some degree, it's just a discussion as to how far we go.
I was a cop for years, I never liked to chase people over 90 mph and always preferred lower limits, and In those days I had enough testosterone to go around.
Any other cops out there that feel differently, I respect your opinion.

With all due respect, it is very fortunate that law enforcement does not get to make policy in the U.S. If it did, I would be much more worried about the 4th amendment than the 2nd. The goal is not to make their job easier, sorry guys.

Just to be clear, I've never owned a gun and I'm certainly not "fearful" of a sign with a number on it. Speed limits are a minor annoyance that have the potential of making me write a check when I choose to ignore them, nothing more. Fortunately, there is no chance of us repeating errors from 30 years ago, so this discussion is really a little pointless.

"55 mph national speed limit.....it’s time has come."

Says who ?

I happen to drive a turnpike cruiser and I don't need you tell me how to drive it.

If you have time on your hands, go and try to find something useful to do with it. Maybe subscribe to a petty politics newsgroup.

This one happens to be about cars, and not all of them are 4 cylinder Camrys or other rice beaters.

Right on. We need a car advocacy group to fight the communist hoard.

Uh, no.

The speed limit was enacted by Congress in March 1974 as part of a package of measures dealing with the oil crisis mph, it was thought, was the most efficient use of an auto's engine and thus would save fuel. As it turned out, however, the energy actually saved was minimal-at best 1 percent of gasoline consumption or about the same amount a driver could realize by increasing the pressure of his radial tires from 24 to 26 pounds

9/9/86, "The High Cost of 55 MPH", The Heritage Foundation

And that was with 70's cars. Today are signifigantly more fuel efficient. I know all 3 of my vehicles do not vary signifigantly in fuel economy between the 2, and yes I do both speeds (interstate within a city and rural) on a regular basis.

Updated: 03/22/2008 09:23:39 PM

" 9/9/86, "The High Cost of 55 MPH", The Heritage Foundation "

Oh great...a conservative think tank funded by big business interests including Ford, GM and Mobile Oil. Please come to the same conclusion but quote some official govt. source......or Tom and Ray....some one other than Bush/Cheney et.al.

So what if The Heritage Foundation does have an agenda to push. It's totally irrelevant.

Exactly what part of "NOBODY WANT'S TO DRIVE THAT SLOW" don't you understand?

Showing comments 41 - 60 of 235

First Previous Next Last

RSS

CAR TALK, DEWEY, CHEETHAM & HOWE, SHAMELESS COMMERCE, and WARPED DISCS are registered trademarks of Tom and Ray Magliozzi and/or Tappet Brothers Associates d/b/a Dewey, Cheetham & Howe.