Citation

Crouch RL. Accid. Anal. Prev. 1976; 8(3): 187-199.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

On 2 January 1974, "The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act" reduced the maximum highway speed limit for all vehicles to 55 mph. The sole reason advanced for this reduction was to conserve fuel. Although fuel costs are one determinant of what the socially optimal highway speed limit should be, they are not the sole determinant of that optimum. Consequently, it would be entirely fortuitous if the new 55 mph speed limit is socially optimal. This paper discusses the full range of considerations which should be taken into account in establishing a socially optimal speed limit and its optimal enforcement. Some empirical tests are suggested at the end of this paper, though no empirical work is included.