Speed Limits Really Hinder Getaways

When I was a kid, I remember going on vacations in the family car, watching the miles roll by on the big, wide interstate. The speed limits were at least 70 mph and traffic flowed nicely while all six of us kids entertained ourselves with the games, or teased each other until Dad got involved.

Cruising along at that speed was a comfortable balance between safety and getting someplace. Those days may be here again thanks to a new bill waiting to be signed into law.

The 55 mph national speed limit arrived in 1974 as part of an energy bill. When the energy bill was repealed, the 55 limit somehow stuck and the cat-and-mouse radar game with police and drivers began in earnest.

Little was accomplished when the 65 mph limit appeared, due to heavy restrictions on where states could use it. About 85 percent of us routinely exceeded that federally mandated crawl, voting with our right foot to drive on freeways at higher speeds.

Happily, this era appears to be over now that the Senate and House have both passed a new transportation bill that includes a repeal of the national speed limit. The bill is now in a conference committee being prepared for President Clinton’s signature. His signature will allow states to set their own speed limits again.

For North Idaho residents, having the federal government end its 21 years of control over state speed limits is a boon.

One of our chief assets is a geographically central location to many of the greatest vacation and wilderness spots in North America - Yellowstone and Glacier national parks, Banff, the Pacific Coast and points in between. Reaching them more quickly will enhance the quality of life for the many outdoor enthusiasts that make up our communities.

By the same token, more people may consider a trip to Coeur d’Alene, filling up the tourism coffers so important to our economy.

Under the current 65 mph limit, Glacier is a little more than a five-hour drive from Coeur d’Alene, assuming the usual minor delays and gas stops for an average speed of 60. If speed limits rise, that time would drop to 4.4 hours driving at 75 mph, 3.9 hours at 85 mph and so on.

For states in the West, imposition of the federal speed limit was particularly intrusive due to our wide open spaces and lightly traveled interstates. It’s a stark contrast with the clogged urban beltways our federal lawmakers experience every day.

Recently, I drove on the German autobahn where there are no speed limits. It was striking to see how smoothly traffic flowed. Cars spent much less time in the fast lane because they could pass by accelerating, get around 10 cars in a matter of seconds.

In the United States, cars clog the fast lane because we can only accelerate up to the limit, often only a few miles per hour faster than the cars being passed.

One day in Germany, I had an appointment just under 300 miles away. Driving at a comfortable 100 mph with no stops, I parked the car three hours later at my destination. If this were possible in the United States, it would be faster to drive 300 miles to Seattle than to fly from Spokane.

Finally, we need a change in federal policy that will benefit North Idaho residents more than our urban brethren. Too bad it didn’t happen last year. If O.J. and his white Bronco had been able to drive a little faster, he might have eluded the police and saved us $9 million in trial costs. Just a thought.

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