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The 55 mph national maximum speed limit law: a case for continuation

The primary intent of this study is to examine the issues surrounding the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law and determine whether or not the existing law warrants continuation on all highways. The issues addressed in the paper are the historical background of the law, costs, benefits and savings associated with the law, enforcement and compliance, and support for and opposition to the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law.
The findings of the study showed that the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law has proven to be effective in reducing costs through reduced fuel consumption. In addition, this law is also an effective safety measure in reducing fatalities on highways. The writer recommends that the 55 mph National Maximum Speed Limit Law should be maintained on all highways in this country. In strengthening the enforcement of the law, the writer further recommends that additional funds be provided to assist state patrol agencies.
The main sources of information were secondary which included data from statistical abstracts, Federal Highway Administration documents, printed congressional committee hearings and reports. The primary sources utilized were derived from interviews with representatives of the Georgia Motorist Trucking Association and the Federal Highway Administration.
In the event that policymakers increase the national maximum speed limit, the writer recommends that the federal government impose an additional safety measure such as requiring all states to enforce mandatory seatbelt usage to prevent the potential increase in the number of fatalities that may result from a higher speed limit.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:auctr.edu/oai:digitalcommons.auctr.edu:dissertations-3621
Date01 May 1987
CreatorsScriber, Karen Francine
PublisherDigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center
Source SetsAtlanta University Center
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceETD Collection for Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center

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