In 2014, we will see the 40th anniversary of the National Maximum Speed Law, which set speed limits throughout the country at 55 mph. The NMSL went into effect in 1974, as part of the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, and was enacted in response to the oil shortage and spikes in gas prices. Congress anticipated that the legislation would result in reduced travel, savings in cost and oil usage, and heightened safety. States were required to participate in order to receive funding for highway repairs from the Federal Highway Administration
The law ultimately proved to be unpopular, with several states opting to participate, and drivers increasingly failing to comply. The law was modified in the late 1980s to allow speeds of up to 65 mph on certain roads, and was completely repealed in 1995, to return authority over speed limits to individual states.
While the cost savings of the lower speed limit are debatable, reasonable speed limits certainly have had a significant effect on saving lives and reducing serious injuries. According to the National Research Council, during the years the law was enacted, there was an immediate and significant decrease in automobile fatalities.
In litigation we encounter, the most prevalent cause of car accidents is unsafe speed. Obviously, the greater the speed, the less reaction time one has to avoid an accident and retain control of a vehicle. Impacts at significantly higher speeds are also more likely to cause serious injuries and fatalities. While many drivers may disregard speed limits in an effort to save time, the most important consideration should always be safety.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to another driver’s negligent speeding, please call the accident attorneys at Maynard, O’Connor, Smith & Catalinotto to help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve.
We are here to help you. Call (800) 721-3553 today or click here to email us.
