Speed Limits Essay -- Expository Speeding Government Essays

Speed LimitsJim was leaving work late, and he knew that his wife was at home waiting on him. She had prep ard a nice repast for their anniversary and was sitting on the couch all alone. As Jim pulled out of the plant and onto newly paved two-lane highway, he noticed a enlarged white sign with the words rush limit and the number 50. It was a thirty minute drive home, and he could easily make up the clock he lost at work if he could just drive as unwavering as he wanted. For the next half hour, however, Jim drove lambert miles per hour, all the while, contemplating why we have speed limits. Why do we have speed limits? What is the point in setting a limit on how fast you can drive your vehicle? Shouldnt you be able to set your own personal speed limit? Who really has a say in what the speed limit is set at? Does any good come from having a speed limit, or is it just set up as a means for the government to make money? These questions and more just like them have been an important t opic of discussion for many years. In 1995, the national speed limit was dropped, and states were allowed to set their own speed limits. Many of the states raised the limits. California promptly rose to 65 mph, and Texas went even as high as 70 mph. Some states, however, kept the limit the same. The reason this topic has so much significance is that it affects every driver on Americas roadways. As well as affecting the way we drive, speed limits affect us in other ways. Some smaller towns rely on speed limits as a source of income. This income results from issuing citations to speeders. If drivers fail to yield to the speed limits, they may face consequences. A citation for speeding is considered a minor misdemeanor and requires the payment of a stated amount ... ...he speed limit change (Griffin). Even worse than just an increase in crash rates, is the result of speed in a crash. The higher the traveling speed, the greater the risk of serious injury or death in a crash (Speed).Sp eeding is an issue of personal ethics. We are commanded to obey the laws that are made by the people God has placed in power on earth as long as those laws wear offt contradict what He has first commanded in the Bible. If we choose to speed, we are not only being unethical, we are disobeying God. So, if you are unsure about whether to voter turnout for or against raising the speed limits, make a wise decision. Choose to keep the limits where they are. There is no reason that we need to travel any fast than we already do. The more reasonable answer is to stick with the speed limits we currently have, and focus our attention on making people better drivers.