55 SPEED LIMIT

Cars and other vehicles can travel much faster than the speeds for which highways are designed. They can travel much faster than drivers can safely stop them in an emergency. High travel speeds lead to more frequent crashes and more serious crash injuries--the higher the speed the worse the problem. Early in 1974, speed limits of 55 mph were enacted in all states to save gasoline during an acute shortage. They've had the benefit, too, of reducing deaths and injuries. This edition of IIHS Facts addresses the 55 mph speed limit.

• Corporate Authors:

  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

  1005 North Glebe Road
  Arlington, VA  United States  22201
• Publication Date: 1987-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • IIHS Facts
  • Publisher: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: 55 mph speed limit; Crash severity; Fatalities; Highway safety; Injuries; Safety; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491815
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 017
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM