Everyone carries an opinion or two that is somewhat controversial. Maybe you keep it to yourself because you don’t want to cause a stir, or maybe you shout it from the mountain tops to trigger the libs or whatever. Today, and today only, we are all here to listen and not judge. You can sound off in the comments section below with your most unhinged, deranged, and unpopular automotive opinions.
A lot of my opinions seem to cause controversy around these parts. From “repave Sebring” to “at least half of the F1 grid should get fired” a lot of Jalopnik commenters have a lot to say about the things I say. But none of my published opinions are quite as controversial as the one I’m about to unleash on you all. The 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act was actually a great idea and should never have been repealed. Not only did the national 55-mph limit decrease fuel consumption and reduce the national energy dependence crisis (though admittedly not as much as projected) the lower highway speeds led to safer streets and fewer dead Americans.
Over the last few years I’ve committed hundreds of thousands of miles of highway slogging to memory, and I have seen American drivers at their worst behavior. The highways of this nation are among the most dangerous places to spend time, and it seems to be getting worse. Not only are our current speed limits far too high, but they aren’t being enforced and I frequently see extremely unsafe speeds. In recent weeks I’ve been in the slow lane going the speed limit and get overtaken by super dutys hauling horse trailers, Suburbans pulling boats, or sometimes even tractor trailers fully loaded down weighing up to 80,000 pounds.
Over 40,000 human lives are taken every year on American roadways, and if we can reduce that number by even a small percentage by reducing the national speed limit, I say the minor inconvenience is worth it.
There you have it, there’s the hill I have found to die on. Go ahead, give us yours in the comments below, but be prepared to defend your takes.
