U.S. Sen. John Warner talks up 55 mph national speed limit


Apparently rock musician Sammy Hagar is not one of U.S. Sen. John Warner's (R-Virginia) constituents.

Sen. Warner has suggested that the U.S. Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices, The Associated Press reported.

However, Warner has not specifically sponsored legislation calling for a roll-back to 55 miles per hour: he has only asked U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to research which speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology, and also wants to know if the Bush Administration would support a Congressional effort to mandate a lower speed limit, The AP reported.

Last 55 mph law: 1973-74

The United States last imposed a 55 mph speed limit in 1974, as part of an effort to conserve gasoline in response to the world's first oil shock, the 1973-74 oil crisis.


Gasoline Analysis: Sen. Warner's goal is to save gasoline, and lives, and it is beyond dispute that lower highway speeds reduce gasoline consumption and save lives. Hence, his inquiry and possible legislation is laudable. However, it's likely to face considerable political opposition. Perhaps second only to the freedom of speech, Americans revere the right to drive, and drive faster than 60 mph, if the speed limit and traffic/weather conditions allow. The late author/commentator William F. Buckley Jr. once called Americans' stance toward an acceptable auto speed as "the posted speed limit, plus ten percent." Whether Sen. Warner can build a coalition -- even amid record-high gas prices -- to pass a 55 or 60 mph speed limit and buck the culture remains to be seen.

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What's your view? Is Sen. Warner right? Should the U.S. Congress pass a 55 mph or 60 mph national speed limit to save gasoline and lives? Or is this another example of government interfering with your personal freedom / liberty? Let us know what you think.

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