Lowering the Speed Limit

November 25, 2008

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Profile America — Tuesday, November 25th. Americans are facing the hard reality of rising gas prices and worry about future availability. While the causes are different, a similar problem gripped the nation this week in 1973 and resulted in lowering the speed limit from 70 to 55 miles an hour. The timing was chosen because of the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, with its heavy traffic. While unpopular, the reduced speeds stayed in effect for 14 years and were credited with saving thousands of lives and about 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline annually. Today, U.S. motor vehicles of all types use close to a half-billion gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel each day. Cars get an average of almost 23 miles per gallon, while vans, pickups and SUVs average just over 16. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2008, p. 569
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 1070
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html