Lower speed limit has many benefits

Published 3:19 pm Monday, May 12, 2008

My compliments to the letter writer on May 1 who recommended setting a federal 55 mph speed limit to reduce fuel consumption. Even reducing the speed limit to 60 mph would cause a significant reduction in consumption. Currently, some truck drivers are already voluntarily reducing their speed to 55 mph to save on diesel fuel. If they dropped down to 50 mph under a new national limit they could further increase their miles per gallon. With consumption down, prices would follow.

An ancillary benefit would be the reduction in accidents, injuries and fatalities which now have reached over 50,000 annually. The savings in lost work time, hospital costs, insurance costs and most important, the reduction in grief, would be very significant. A negative resulting from lower gas tax revenues could be offset easily by doubling the fines for speeding violations.

For you global warming enthusiasts, just think of the carbon dioxide emissions reductions! If we are truly facing a national emergency on energy and the environment this is a recommendation that needs to be implemented. This is a no-brainer.

Robert Johnston