A law-abiding citizen, or the owner of a 1984 Datsun with a four cylinder engine, may already get enraged at speed demons flying past them at 75 or 80 mph or higher on the freeway, but they have not seen anything yet.
As of today, the federal government will no longer regulate interstate highway speeds. States have decided to keep the 55 mph speed limit in urban areas, but all over the nation, rural highways will be converted into drag strips.
The new speed limits, although they are not everywhere, should not be anywhere, because they will be abused. Instead of racing along the highway at 11 p.m. doing 70 mph and glancing in the rearview mirror for cops, drivers will easily go 80 mph without the slightest fear of getting stopped by the Highway Patrol. Citizens push the speed limit to the extreme now, and will do just the same when the state of California increases the speed limit in January.
Montana will no longer have a speed limit at all during the daytime. Wyoming and Nevada will make their speed limits 75 mph, and only five states will stick to the 55 mph limit. Across the country, speed limit signs will boast 65 or 70 mph, depending on what each state prefers.
What they prefer? The states are finally given power over the federal government in a serious matter, and it is the speed limit. As if speeding is not enough of a problem right now.
The speed limit has never been the limit. The limit is usually anywhere between 8-10 mph over the posted speed limit. Many beginning motorists are taught that if they drive within these numbers, police will most likely not stop them for speeding. This belief has been passed down for generations. It is the unwritten law.
The average motorist does not travel at the posted speed limit. In some cases, the motorist is in a hurry, or is just not paying attention. Maybe he or she just got a 1995 Porsche and wants to see how fast it will go. Either way, just one glance at any highway, it is easy to see a variety of speeds.
Currently, supply trucks traveling at 50 mph are cutoff by red sports cars going 75. This is with a strict 55 mph speed limit and the threat of the Highway Patrol passing out outrageous speeding tickets that can mar a motorist’s driving record for life.
The joy at the announcement of a higher speed limit was heard everywhere, from every sort of driver. This is negligent. The second largest cause of automobile accidents is speeding (right behind drunk driving), and the federal government has decided that maintaining a reasonable speed limit is not necessary.
Meanwhile, the government threatens to make immigration to the United States and abortion illegal. Which of these should require stricter government regulation? The answer is obvious.
Many motorists claim that this sudden increase will not affect the speed at which drivers travel. People travel at speeds which are most comfortable for them, regardless of the speed limit. This speed is currently around 65 or 70 mph, so now motorists will not have to fear an outrageous speeding ticket. They think this is a good change and will not make the highways any less safe. It will.
People change with the times, if it is to their benefit. The American people are very good at taking full advantage of what is offered to them by the government, since the average citizen feels wronged by the federal government anyway.
Many Americans feel victorious with this new freedom; the freedom to travel at a speed that is more dangerous than 55 mph, which will result in more deaths from automobile accidents related to speed. We have won less regulation in a department that needs strict regulation, which is nothing that America should be boasting about.
