Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health say that the 1995 repeal of the federally mandated 55 mile-per-hour speed limit has resulted in a much higher incidence of traffic fatalities. You might recall that in the oil-starved 1970’s, Congress enacted a law that cut down on fuel consumption. From 1974 right up to 1995, “double nickle” speed limits were the rule throughout the nation. Lead author of the study, Professor Lee Friedman writes, “During the first year there was a drop of almost 17 percent in fatalities after the speed laws were reduced to 55 miles per hour.”

And since the law was repealed, and states have been allowed to use their own judgment on freeway speeds? “Over the 10-year period following the repeal . . . there were approximately 12,500 deaths due to the increased speed limits across the U.S.” Making a comparison to the tragedy of the September 11 terrorist attacks that took 3,000 lives, Friedman says, “That tragic event has led to a whole new foreign policy. We estimate that approximately 12,500 people died as a result of a policy to deregulate speed enforcement–four times what happened on September 11th-and yet changing the policy to reduce speed limits may be very difficult.”

But if Friedman thinks federal mandates should rule again on freeway speeds, he isn’t alone. This week the American Trucking Association (ATA), an interest group for commercial truck drivers, made a repeated call for federal a back-down in speeds. Rather than calling for 55 signs, however, the ATA says they think a national speed law of 65 miles-per-hour would enhance safety for the traveling public.

photo courtesy California Highway Patrol