55 mph speed limit being erected in response to the National Maximum Speed Law. Note the sign below, presumably a 60 or 65 mph truck speed limit.

The National Maximum Speed Law is a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act[1] that capped all speed limits at 55 mph. This cap was intended to conserve gasoline in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The law was modified in the late 1980s to allow 65 mph limits. In 1995 it was repealed, returning the power of setting speed limits to the states. Image File history File links Erecting_55_mph_speed_limit. ... Image File history File links Erecting_55_mph_speed_limit. ... -1...

See also: Speed limits in the United States

A standard sign indicating a speed limit of 80 miles per hour (mph), a night-time speed limit of 65 mph, and a truck speed limit of 55 mph On United States roads, speed limits are usually: 25–30 mph (40–50 km/h) on residential streets 35–45 mph...

History

Before the federal speed limit

Historically, the power to set speed limits belonged to the states. Immediately before the National Maximum Speed Law became effective, speed limits were as high as 75 mph.^[1][2] Montana and Nevada generally posted no numeric speed limit on rural roads. A speed limit is the maximum speed allowed by law by vehicles on a road. ...

1974 — 55 mph National Speed Limit

As an emergency response to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. Congress and President Nixon imposed a nationwide 55 mph (88 km/h) speed limit in 1974 by requiring the limit as a condition of each state receiving highway funds, a use of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution^[3].-1... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... Order: 37th President Vice President: Spiro Agnew (1969–1973), Gerald R. Ford (1973–1974) Term of office: January 20, 1969 – August 9, 1974 Preceded by: Lyndon B. Johnson Succeeded by: Gerald R. Ford Date of birth: January 9, 1913 Place of birth: Yorba Linda, California Date of death: April 22... A speed limit is the maximum speed allowed by law for road vehicles. ... Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the United States Constitution, known as the Commerce Clause, empowers the United States Congress To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes. ... The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ...

It was also believed that, based on a drop in fatalities the first year the limit was imposed, the 55 mph limit increased highway safety. Later studies were more mixed on this point, and available statistics show that the safety record actually worsened in the first few months of the 55 mph speed limit and further suggest the fatality drop was a short-lived anomaly that regressed to mean by 1978.^[4] After the oil crisis abated, the 55 mph speed limit was retained mainly due to the perceived safety aspect. In statistics, regression toward the mean is a principle stating that of related measurements, and selecting those where the first measurement is either higher or lower than the average, the expected value of the second is closer to the mean than the observed value of the first. ...

The 55 mph limit was unpopular, especially in western states that have long distances between cities or points of interest.

A United States Department of Transportation study found that the total fuel savings during the national speed limit was no more than 1% overall.^[5] Established October 15, 1966 Activated April 1, 1967 Secretary Maria Cino (acting) Deputy Secretary Maria Cino Budget $58 billion (2004 estimate) Employees 58,622 (2004 estimate) The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transport. ...

Nevada's 70 mph challenge

In June 1, 1986, Nevada challenged the 55 mph speed limit by posting a 70 mph limit on a 3 mile (5 km) stretch of Interstate 80. The Nevada statute authorizing this speed limit included language that invalidated itself if the federal government suspended transportation funding. Indeed, the Federal Highway Administration immediately withheld highway funding, so the statute quickly invalidated itself.^[6] This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Route across the United States Interstate 80 (abbreviated I-80) is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States. ... The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. ...

1987 and 1988 — 65 mph limit

In the April 2, 1987 Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act, Congress permitted states to raise speed limits to 65 mph (105 km/h) on rural Interstate highways,^[7] and in 1988 Congress extended the same 65 mph limit to any rural roads built to Interstate standards even if they were not signed as Interstates (although states had to apply for this privilege). The Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 (Pub. ...

1995 — Repeal of federal limits

Congress lifted all federal speed limit controls in the November 28, 1995 National Highway Designation Act, fully delegating speed limit authority to the states. Several states immediately reverted to already existing laws. For example, most Texas rural limits that were above 55 mph in 1974 immediately reverted to 70 mph, causing some legal confusion before the new signs were posted. Montana reverted to non-numerical speed limits on most rural highways, although its legislature adopted a 75 mph limit in 1999 (see the Montana section of speed limits in the United States for more details). The National Highway Designation Act of 1995 (Pub. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Helena Largest city Billings Area  Ranked 4th  - Total 147,165 sq mi (381,156 km²)  - Width 255 miles (410 km)  - Length 630 miles (1,015 km)  - % water 1  - Latitude 44°26 N to 49° N  - Longitude 104°2 W to 116°2 W Population  Ranked... A standard sign indicating a speed limit of 80 miles per hour (mph), a night-time speed limit of 65 mph, and a truck speed limit of 55 mph On United States roads, speed limits are usually: 25–30 mph (40–50 km/h) on residential streets 35–45 mph... A standard sign indicating a speed limit of 80 miles per hour (mph), a night-time speed limit of 65 mph, and a truck speed limit of 55 mph On United States roads, speed limits are usually: 25–30 mph (40–50 km/h) on residential streets 35–45 mph...

Almost all states now post higher speed limits than in 1995.

Reclassified roads

Some roads that weren't Interstate highways but were built to Interstate standards were reclassified as Interstate highways to qualify for the 65 mph speed limit:

• Kansas petitioned the Federal Highway Administration on May 14, 1987 to "designate the turnpike as an interstate highway between Topeka and Emporia". This Kansas Turnpike segment had existed since 1956 without a federal designation. Interstate status was granted, Interstate 335 was designated, and the 65 mph speed limit signs went up.^[8]
• Western Interstate 88 in Illinois had previously been designated as Illinois Route 5.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. ... The Kansas Turnpike is a 236-mile (380 km)[1] toll road entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Interstate 335 is the name of an interstate highway spur route of Interstate 35 in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Interstate 88 (abbreviated I-88) is an interstate highway entirely within the state of Illinois. ... See also U.S. 6 Illinois Route 5 is a four-lane road that runs from U.S. Route 67 in Rock Island, IL to the interchange of Interstate 80 and the toll-free portion of Interstate 88, a distance of about twenty miles (32 km). ...

Popular Culture

The 55 mph limit morphed into the popular culture:

• Government television campaigns (including ads featuring Willie Nelson) proclaimed "55 Saves Lives" and "Don't Be Fuelish."
• The film Smokey and the Bandit II featured a state trooper holding a radar gun with the "55" on the dial, reflecting the era.
• Sammy Hagar's hit single "I Can't Drive 55".
• Several automotive speedometers of the era had special emphasis on the number 55
• The term "double nickel" came into widespread usage.

Willie Hugh Nelson (born April 30, 1933) is an American entertainer and songwriter, born and raised in Abbott, Texas. ... Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) is the sequel to the 1977 smash Smokey and the Bandit. ... Sammy playing guitar in red cloths Samuel Ray Hagar (born October 13, 1947 in Monterey, California, USA), better known as Sammy Hagar, is a U.S. rock guitarist, singer, and composer. ... Speedometer gauge on a car, showing the speed of the vehicle in miles and kilometre per hour on the out– and inside respectively. ...

External links

• Photograph of 55 mph speed limit replacing a 70 mph limit on Feb. 12, 1974

References

1. ^ http://www.ibiblio.org/rdu/sl-attud/maps/sl-map.gif
2. ^ Kansas had lowered its turnpike speed limit from 80 before 1974.
3. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/1989/sg890328.txt
4. ^ http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa346.pdf (pages 7-9)
5. ^ http://www.heritage.org/Research/SmartGrowth/upload/87610_1.pdf
6. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/1989/sg890328.txt
7. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/osg/briefs/1989/sg890328.txt
8. ^ "65 mph approved for route", Wichita Eagle-Beacon, October 24, 1987.