Speed limit increase would bring more deaths

In reference to the current proposed speed limit increase, I have to wonder what actual benefits will be revealed. We were led to believe in the 1970s that lowering the speed limit to 55 mph would significantly lower the fatality rate on our highways. The National Maximum Speed Law enacted and signed into law on Jan. 2, 1974, officially designated the maximum speed limit not to exceed 55 mph. Although some believed the act did indeed assist in lowering the fatality rate, continued safety improvements in automobiles likely contributed as well.

Due to general lack of popularity of the act, and noncompliance of many states, the law was eventually repealed. The most recent contributing factors, such as cellphone abuse, and other distractions (GPS devices, etc.) may very well bring the fatality rate full stream ahead with the added speed limit increase.

I guess none of this matters to a lot of us, so long as most of us get where we’re going faster, even if some of us never arrive at all.

Tom Powell

Spring Grove