This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Not long ago the top speed limit on some Utah freeways was raised to 80 miles per hour. Whether or not speeding was involved in the horrific crashes of recent days, there are good reasons to roll back the top speed limit on all Utah highways to 60 mph.
First, it is true the cars have become safer with such innovations as disc brakes, seat belts, and air bags, but the massive recalls of the past year — not limited to General Motors — are a warning against unrealistic optimism on this score.
Second, even if cars and road have improved, the number of older drivers continues to increase and human reaction time inevitably declines with age; at age 80, I am a good case in point.
Third, reducing top speed limits will help to cope with Utah's clean air problem. There is ample evidence that high speeds reduce auto mileage:
A study of Toyota Corollas found that miles per gallon fell by 5 when speed increased from 60 to 65 mph.
Research on other models found that mpg was between 1.4 percent to 20.2 percent better at 56 mph than at 65 mph.
A study of 10 vehicles found in all of them that mpg fell sharply when speed increased beyond 60 mph.
Finally, slower speeds will allow drivers better to enjoy the beautiful Utah landscape.
Ole R. Holsti
Salt Lake City