Drive 55 mph Its The Law

President Nixon on January 2, 1974 signed into law the uniform speed limit of 55. If the states did not
agree they would not receive federal funding for highway repair. The federal 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation act prohibited speed limits higher than 55 miles per hour. The act came about because of a spike in oil prices and supply disruption during the 1973 oil crisis. Not only did motorists dislike the new law but most state opposed the law as well.




In 1987 and 1988 the speed limit on certain access and rural roads the speed limit was lifted to 65.