WHAT'S WRONG WITH 55 MPH? AN INCREASINGLY VOCAL BAND OF CRITICS SAY: "PLENTY"

Criticisms of the fifty-five mile per hour (55 mph) speed limit are noted. Although authorities within the Department of Transportation state that the 55 mph law conserves gasoline and makes highways safer, independent truckers oppose the limit and argue that it imposes additional burdens on them in terms of time and money. Some economists in the transportation field do not agree that the 55 mph limit saves fuel and they believe longer travel times more than cancel any other economic benefit. Certain critics indicate that the 55 mph limit may actually lead to less traffic safety. Costs associated with the limit concern enforcement (official manhours and paper work), expense to consumers due to higher shipping prices of goods handled by trucks, and cost to the average motorist in travel time. Some studies demonstrate that a decline in fatal accidents since the 55 mph limit was in force has occurred mainly in city streets where the changed speed limit does not apply. It is also argued by some that the observed reduction in traffic fatalities may stem from reduced driving in discretionary situations (e.g. fatigue, alcohol abuse, night driving, driving on rural roads, and during weekends and holidays) and from other factors unrelated to the 55 mph limit. Others feel that the 55 mph mandate prevents state and local authorities from adjusting traffic laws to obtain uniform traffic flow and greater traffic safety in local areas.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00952222
• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also HS-029 911.
• Corporate Authors:

  Consumer's Research Incorporated

  517 Second Street NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20002
• Publication Date: 1980-8

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 18-20
• Serial:
  • Consumers' Research
  • Volume: 63
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Consumer's Research Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0095-2222

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 55 mph speed limit; Benefits; Costs; Evaluation; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Finance; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390534
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 991
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM