National Maximum Speed Law

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55 mph speed limit being erected in response to the National Maximum Speed Law. Note the sign below, presumably a 60 or 65 mph truck speed limit.

The National Maximum Speed Law (in the United States) is a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act [1] that capped all speed limits at 55 mph. This cap was intended to conserve gasoline in response to the 1973 oil crisis. The law was modified in the late 1980s to allow 65 mph limits. In 1995 it was repealed, returning the power of setting speed limits to the states.

See also: Speed limits in the United States

1 History
2 Popular Culture
3 External links
4 References

[edit] History

[edit] Before the federal speed limit

Historically, the power to set speed limits belonged to the states. Immediately before the National Maximum Speed Law became effective, speed limits were as high as 75 mph.^[1]^[2] Montana and Nevada generally posted no numeric speed limit on rural roads.

[edit] 1974 — 55 mph National Speed Limit

As an emergency response to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. Congress and President Nixon imposed a nationwide 55 mph (88 km/h) speed limit in 1974 by requiring the limit as a condition of each state receiving highway funds, a use of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution^[3].

It was also believed that, based on a drop in fatalities the first year the limit was imposed, the 55 mph limit increased highway safety. Later studies were more mixed on this point, and available statistics show that the safety record actually worsened in the first few months of the 55 mph speed limit and further suggest the fatality drop was a short-lived anomaly that regressed to mean by 1978.^[4] After the oil crisis abated, the 55 mph speed limit was retained mainly due to the perceived safety aspect.

The 55 mph limit was unpopular, especially in western states that have long distances between cities or points of interest.

A United States Department of Transportation study found that the total fuel savings during the national speed limit was no more than 1% overall.^[5]

[edit] Nevada's 70 mph challenge

In June 1, 1986, Nevada challenged the 55 mph speed limit by posting a 70 mph limit on a 3 mile (5 km) stretch of Interstate 80. The Nevada statute authorizing this speed limit included language that invalidated itself if the federal government suspended transportation funding. Indeed, the Federal Highway Administration immediately withheld highway funding, so the statute quickly invalidated itself.^[6]

[edit] 1987 and 1988 — 65 mph limit

In the April 2, 1987 Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act, Congress permitted states to raise speed limits to 65 mph (105 km/h) on rural Interstate highways,^[7] and in 1988 Congress extended the same 65 mph limit to any rural roads built to Interstate standards even if they were not signed as Interstates (although states had to apply for this privilege).

[edit] 1995 — Repeal of federal limits

Congress lifted all federal speed limit controls in the November 28, 1995 National Highway Designation Act, fully delegating speed limit authority to the states. Several states immediately reverted to already existing laws. For example, most Texas rural limits that were above 55 mph in 1974 immediately reverted to 70 mph, causing some legal confusion before the new signs were posted. Montana reverted to non-numerical speed limits on most rural highways, although its legislature adopted a 75 mph limit in 1999 (see the Montana section of speed limits in the United States for more details).

All states are now able to post higher speed limits than in 1995. Hawaii was the last state to raise its speed limit above 55 mph when, in response to public outcry after an experiment with road safety cameras in 2002, it raised the maximum speed limit on parts of Interstates H-1 and H-3 to 60 mph.^[8]

[edit] Reclassified roads

Some roads that weren't Interstate highways but were built to Interstate standards were reclassified as Interstate highways to qualify for the 65 mph speed limit:

Kansas petitioned the Federal Highway Administration on May 14, 1987 to "designate the turnpike as an interstate highway between Topeka and Emporia". This Kansas Turnpike segment had existed since 1956 without a federal designation. Interstate status was granted, Interstate 335 was designated, and the 65 mph speed limit signs went up.^[9]
Western Interstate 88 in Illinois had previously been designated as Illinois Route 5.

[edit] Popular Culture

The 55 mph limit morphed into the popular culture:

Government television campaigns (including ads featuring Willie Nelson) proclaimed "55 Saves Lives" and "Don't Be Fuelish."
The film Smokey and the Bandit II featured a state trooper holding a radar gun with the "55" on the dial, reflecting the era.
Sammy Hagar's hit single "I Can't Drive 55".
Several automotive speedometers of the era had special emphasis on the number 55
The term "double nickel" came into widespread usage.
In "The Way We Was," a teenage Homer Simpson prepares for a debate on the 55 mph speed limit, arguing that, "Sure, it'll save a few lives, but millions will be late!"
The Cannonball Run films