I can't drive 55!

WWJ Newsradio 950 - AP News Article.

(Gov. Granholm) noted drivers can save money by driving slower and said lowering the speed limit ''is something we should consider.'' She didn't say what the new lower limit should be. The current limit is 70 mph on most portions of Michigan's interstate highways.

State Rep. Aldo Vagnozzi said Wednesday in a statement that he has introduced a resolution urging Congress to reduce the national speed limit to 55 miles per hour. The lower limit would save Americans money by reducing gasoline usage while saving lives and lessening U.S. dependence on foreign oil, the Farmington Hills Democrat said.

The country had a national speed limit of 55 mph from 1974 to 1995, although states eventually were allowed to set 65-mph limits on rural interstates before the law was repealed. Now, 32 states including Michigan have limits of 70 mph or higher on some parts of their highways, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Comment -- The practical speed limit on the Interstates is 80 mph, with a significant number of cars and trucks cruising along at 90. You think anyone is going to put up with dropping down to 55?

You often hear people claiming that driving 55 gets better gas mileage, but I've also read that modern aerodynamic sedans get about the same mileage from 55 to 80. From personal experience, I can tell you that our car gets equal mileage whether we drive 70 or 80.

And, improving car mileage does nothing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. If we import 60% of our oil from other countries (our biggest supplier is that evil dictatorship, Canada) and we reduce our total oil usage by 5%, we're still getting 60% of our oil from other countries.

Finally, there have been studies that show that lower speed limits on the interstates actually increases, not decreases, overall road deaths. Why? With lower speed limits, drivers have less incentive not to drive on the 55 mph two-lane state highways, which have higher death rates per mile than the interstates.