Speed Limit – No
Even though a speed limit of 55 miles per hour may save money and energy, most people are not going to abide by it. Today's fast paced world is all about speed and competition. No matter where you go people are in a hurry and driving at at least 10 to 20 mph above the speed limit. Those who do worry about saving money and energy are already using alternate modes of transportation.
In Illinois our highway speed is still 55 miles per hour (mph), however be it rush hour or weekend; most people appear to be in a driving frenzy. It appears that people are in a hurry to get nowhere or may be somewhere even when the traffic is on a standstill. People drive easily at 70 to 80 mph, and some cut you off even at that speed. Drive with the flow appears to be the only way to get home safely.
I have felt safer driving in States with higher speed limits. At least there I feel safer driving because I can just focus on driving with the traffic flow instead of having to worry about the police on top of worrying about the driver who is tailgating me on the highway. It gets even harder to drive when you are caught between the drivers who "drive at the speed limit" and the tailgaters. You thank God if you make it home safe. Most of the times you are afraid to change lanes because you never know what will happen if you decide to change the lane.
One worry that comes to mind is to keep an eye on everyone driving around you because you may never know if you are going to be cut by an insanely crazy driver at the speed of 90 mph, or be dead ended by a too law abiding driver, who refuses to change speed and budge to give you way to take a much needed turn.
Hence I believe it is better to leave it to the states to decide their driving speed limits. Because no matter what, in this country of fast life style, people will always be in a hurry and drive off the speed limits. The proof is in the number of speeding tickets that the States have collected. Even when the gas was selling at $4 per gallon, and people were being advised to drive slow in order to save gas and conserve energy, most people did not heed to the advice. There will be always a reason why people had to speed, but at least you will not have to be caught amidst those who drive at 45mph and the others who drive at almost 90 mph.
It is this wide range of drivers that make highways unsafe and accident prone. At least if speed is somewhat higher, people will be able to drive at close to the designated speed without having to worry about the tailgaters, the slow drivers, topped by a worry to keep a foot on the brakes in case a police car comes by.
