Did they change the speed limit to 55 mph nationwide back in the early 70's?

luminous

The speed limit on most highways was 70mph until the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973 cut the supply of gasoline down, then congress enacted a speed limit of 55 mph on all interstate highways. The 55mph limit was supposedly imposed as a means of reducing fuel consumption and was (much like the Patriot Act) to have been a TEMPORARY measure to expire in 2 years, although it would have saved more fuel if everyone had simply adjusted their tire pressure properly and driven 70mph instead.

The enforcement of the 55mph speed limit became very lucrative to the various states and locales left to enforce this law, so the limit remained for almost two decades, and was repeatedly proped up under the allegations that driving slower somehow saved lives. In actuality, the death rates were dropping as average speeds were increasing in a similar phenomenon to Germany's Autobahn. Naturally it took 20 years of mind-numbingly slow travel and capricious law enforcement before our leaders woke up and recognized this.

By the 1990's 80% of all interstate traffic was exceeding the posted limit by an average of 15mph and the National Motorists Association lobbied for, and finally won the approval of a return to a realistic, if still low, national speed limit.

Ding Bat

Yes they did. And I do believe Nixon was in office at that time. (1973)

Dark Chyld

Noooooo it wasn't Reagan .. more like Nixon then Ford. Some can't think any father back than Reagan .. well because they were born about the time he was in office .. so blame it on him .. lol

cheryl

arrive alive, drive 55. it was to conserve gas and to reduce accidents.

I Know - Pick ME

It's 70 in Michigan and 65 in Ohio.

saghieh

to consume less gas and save money,because of the 1973 arab israeli war

jennifer

Yes it was Reagon who did it.

MARLON SEPPALA

Ya it was in the 70's I was a Just a young lad then.
I'm glad to see some one knew it was Nixon who did it not Reagan.

valkwingrider

they changed the national speed limit to 55 sometime after the oil embargo in the seventies i believe it was in 1975 but not sure about the exact time

when they did that everyone bought cb radios and used them to tell everyone about cops (smokies) on the highway

the cb craze was a big deal in the seventies

factor5lid

it was for saftey and some states balked at doing it so the federal gov refused to send highway tax dollars to those states until they did. Im not sure why they relaxed there stance and let states set there own.

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