ImolaRedM

You're assuming everyone is driving the same relative speed. Data shows that when the speed limit is artificially low you wind up with greater speed variances and that causes more problems with reaction time leading to a higher rate of accidents.

UUronL

As many may know already, the 70s and the gas shortages experienced then drove the US to make the national speed limit 55. There is precedent, and if there's one thing our government loves doing more than implementing a bad idea... it's implementing a bad idea twice.

flyingpuck

OMG....is Jimmy Carter STILL in office????

luigi524td

+1 ... only alien life forms benefit from reverse physics.

Gene

So your studies are saying that at a lower speed max, people will drive faster (greater speed variations) thereby causing problems with reaction times and a higher incidence of accidents. But by increasing the speed limit would that not increase that same risk/higher rate. As stated above, drivers tend to drive 15 mph over the speed limit. Wouldn't raising the bar to the 85th percentile also set the 15mph over higher. If everyone on the road is going 85mph, that would be considered the pace speed thereby causing the more aggressive drivers to hit the 100mph mark. Driving at 55 mph definitely will not give you enough time to react to a speeding 75-80 mph coming up into your review mirror and on your tail. Can one really say that you have more control of your car at 80 mph than 55 mph in a spin out or some type of loss of control incident?

mikeohope

My 2.0D gives me 49mpg driving 100miles + each day on motorways in the UK. Usually at anything between 65 and 90 mph.

Driving at 55mph will not do as much for fuel economy as downsizing your engines.

ImolaRedM

Speed variances of more than 15mph are unsafe. I didn't state that people drive 15mph over the speed limit. In fact, it has been shown that most people drive at a speed they feel comfortable with (85th percentile). Posted speed limits have not proven effective at abating speeds. To reduce speeds other tactics have been shown to be effective. These include painting wider lines in the road to make the lanes appear smaller, narrower shoulders on the roads, and narrower lanes.

If the 85th percentile speed limit for a given stretch of road has been determined to be 85mph then most drivers will drive at the same speed thus reducing variance. Remember, studies show that speed variance is a greater contributor to accidents. You are arguing accident fatalities and that's another topic. I'm not arguing against the laws of physics but against the statement that lower speed limits save lives. Another way to look at this is that statically, we have had fewer fatalities per million miles driven in the US in the 1990's after the repeal of the National Speed Limit than we did in the 1980's during the height of the National Speed Limit.

moschse

This is a gas issue, not a safety issue. My thoughts: if time = $$$, and increased speed = less mpg, and further higher speed = reduced travel time, then I'm saving $$$ when I go fast. Plus its fun

westcoast550

.............no doubt slower is safer , but I'm sure this is more about saving gas ..........just like the 70's,

ImolaRedM

The 70's started as a gas issue but shortly after the gas crisis was over the limit stayed and "55 Saves Lives" took over. If it's a safety issue then the 55mph limit is a poor option based on historical evidence. If it's a gas issue, then it's equally a poor solution that is at best a temporary measure. I wonder how many gallons of gas could be saved if we eliminated congestion on highways? It's hard to get EPA highway miles on the I-495 beltway or I-270 when you're doing 5mph in bumper to bumper traffic on a 95F day.

If the issue is saving gas then how much of an impact will a National 55MPH limit have in the global economy? It didn't help in the 70's when the global market was a smaller one. I think mikeohope is on the right track but there are also other better options. Asking the drunk to replace his highball for a shot glass isn't going to do much now is it?