We suggest a national 55 MPH speed for all traffic.

By maintaining a speed of 55 MPH, drivers can maximize both fuel efficiency and traffic safety.  This bill exceeds this ideal by enacting a 60 MPH limit on highways in urban areas and a 65 MPH limit for non-urban highways.  Although this is not a deal breaker, such speeds are significantly higher than 55 MPH and therefore will result in wasted energy, higher levels of emissions and more danger on the roads.  Furthermore, all traffic must move at a consistent speed for optimal efficiency and safety.  Setting different limits for urban and non-urban highways will create a confusing system, in which drivers will tend to follow the 65 MPH speed limit by default.

We suggest a much more vigorous compliance schedule.

The bill permits 70% of drivers to continue to speed until 2010, and then only gradually lowers the compliance requirement by 10% per year. What kind of law is written to intentionally let 70% of its violators go?  It is unfair to the 30% that get caught, and will do little to deter other offenders.

We suggest a voluntary campaign for everyone now.

Solving the energy crisis and increasing highway safety is up to all of us.  Voluntary programs put the power of change in the hands of the people, where it belongs.  You could encourage such citizen empowerment by spreading the message to "Observe ALL speed limits, never exceeding 55 MPH" and putting a Drive 55 Conservation Project bumper sticker on your car.

Sincerely,

Tim Castleman
Drive 55 Conservation Project