Nt1310 Unit 1 Assignment 1

GOVERNMENT 1

Federal Highway Policy

GOVERNMENT 2 The policy I have chosen to focus on is the Federal Speed Limit. This is a policy that involves national, state and local involvement and I will try to show how each plays a part in this issue. The history of the speed limit goes back decades. The oil embargo in 1973 made it necessary for the Federal government to get involved. They decided that imposing a speed limit would limit fuel usage and save oil since it would be limited. Once the crisis passed, the states were allowed to set the limits for their states. Another thought process was that slowing the speed nationally would reduce the number of accidents and provide for safer travel among travelers. The policy raises the issue of federalism because a state should be able to
As I stated before, the states will argue that no one knows their terrority better than them. My opinion on whether the speed limit is effective is no. The reason I don’t feel it is effective is because people will always speed no matter what we set the speed limit at. There are areas in the country where the speed limit is seventy miles an hour. I have been on these highways and while I’m doing the speed limit, I have been passed by numerous vehicles. Now if the speed limit on that same road was eighty or ninety miles an hour and I was doing that limit, I can promise you there would be cars still going by me. The thought in this country is that “Oh, the cops will give you five miles over the limit”. That thought process needs to be changed. I do believe the policy is consistent with federalism. I have no problem with the federal government giving power to the states to set
GOVERNMENT