The claim that the US should adopt the rule of 55 miles per hour as the national speed limit in order to : conserve fuel, save lives, reduce air pollutants, and provide a standard for safety reducing traffic accidents on American roads, highways, and interstates. The Union of Concerned Scientists tells us that dropping from 70 to 60 mph improves fuel efficiency by an average of 17.2 percent. Dropping from 75 to 55 improves fuel efficiency by 30.6 percent!. In an easy to vision example for the people to understand example: A family sedan, every 10 mph you drive over 60 is like paying 54 cents per gallon more for gas you bought at $3.25 a gallon. That extra cost is even higher if you're buying more expensive gas, and for big SUVs and other less-efficient vehicles. The carbon emissions percentage will also drop considerably reducing pollution by 33 percent, and the time you save by going easy on the accelerator may not add up to as much as you thought. On a 300-mile trip, driving 65 instead of 70 mph would cost you only 20 minutes time difference and save money and spew less carbon into the atmosphere. Most small to midsize cars get the best mileage between 45 and 55 mph The studies show that as speeds creep higher, fuel efficiency drops. For every mile per hour over 60 mph fuel economy drops by an average of 1 Percent which is lowering your fuel efficiency.

The US Department of Transportation stated in a study dated 2010 that the factors will determine the amounts of fuel we are saving. They stated in their report that gasoline at 4 dollars a gallon, a driver with a long commute 400 miles a week and a large gas guzzling V6 or V8 engine is getting only 20 mph would save $18.74 a week by slowing down from 75 mph to 55 mph, the difference from the independent study group of the Union of Concerned Scientists even added to the figure that deceleration from 70 to 60 mph would save $11.74 dollars a week. These numbers to me are staggering and even though we are saving the ten people I surveyed admitted they will not change from 65 mph because of the time saved.

While reading the document I realize that a car such as a small to midsize car dollar efficiency was only a couple of dollars off. The only car that would outright save were the energy efficient small cars which needed more maintenance monitoring and value depreciation decrease faster. The benefits of the speed modification in the high traffic areas such as business, entertainment, and federal building districts is a good idea but in the wide open interstates and major roadways. The speed limits of 70, 60, and 55 Mph is going to be more effective and comfortable to the consumer. Traveling in Birmingham, Alabama as a Strayer University Student the route traveled to the library and resource center two times a week to a minimum is a 15 mile journey on Highway 65 via 465 E. If I were to take the city streets it would add and additional 12 miles and at certain times of the day 25 to 40 minutes of travel time encountering numerous traffic lights, intersections, and hazards such as: Accidents, Trains, and emergency vehicles to include the police. Even if the rush hour traffics are encountered on the interstate or highway the flow and traffic would decrease the time behind the wheel. People in general working 8 to 10 hours a day do not and will care about and extra dollar or two for convenience and speed. The 55 Mph speed limit does have its advantages but the big problem we face in conserving fuel consumption, Travel time, injuries, environmental combustion, and fatalities are the driver’s mentality.

Studies show if people allow themselves enough time to get where they are going speeding will not occur. Majority of people will adhere to the laws. The simple task of: checking or maintaining updated traffic reporting on the internet, radio, or television. Understanding the consequences behind speeding such as expensive tickets, fines, and imprisonment.

Speeding is a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, killing and average of 1,000 Americans every month, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA has announced in its 2012 study that the cost to society of speed related crashes to be more than $40 billion each year since 2008. Speeding is a problem not only on freeways, but also on local streets. Many commuters opt to take surface streets, think they can more efficiently escape the traffic of the large road or interstates. In 2008 87% of fatalities occurred on city streets not the highways. Another hazard of higher rates of speed are the natural obstacles such as weather and road conditions. Traveling over the speed limit can be especially dangerous in bad weather conditions. Speeding was a factor in 53 percent of fatal crashes that occurred when there was snow or slush on the road and in 60 percent of those that happened in icy roads. A simple solution to drivers and to support the 55 mph on highways and 35 city speed limitation is the drivers understanding and responsibilities “ Using Common Sense and Good judgement” Do not be an aggressive driver. The freeway is not a NASCAR race. Speeding, quick lane changes, fast acceleration, and rapid braking all waste gas - and curb mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the DOE. Instead, keep a steady, constant speed. Use the cruise control where appropriate and safe. Another reason to not speed is that you may live longer. Speeding is a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, killing an average of 1,000 Americans every month, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The NHTSA estimates the cost to society of speed-related crashes to be more than $40 billion each year.

Speeding is a problem not only on freeways, but also on local streets. Many commuters opt to take surface streets, thinking they can more efficiently escape traffic and avoid congestion. A 2002 NHTSA study revealed that 87 percent of speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were not interstate highways. Driving 45 miles per hour instead of 35 on a five-mile trip saves less than two minutes. Traveling over the speed limit can be especially dangerous in bad weather conditions. Speeding was a factor in 53 percent of fatal crashes that occurred when there was snow or slush on the road and in 60 percent of those that happened in icy roads. The benefits for 55 miles per hour outweigh the cons against it so overwhelmingly that it is truly a no win situation that will and can create a cleaner safer American roadways for years to come.

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