Senator John Warner (R-VA) recently proposed to Congress that they should consider implementing a national speed limit in order to curb gasoline consumption and lower gas prices. Senator Warner points to studies that show that a national 55 mph speed limit saved not only 167,000 barrels of oil a day, but avoided 4,000 traffic deaths a year. This study was based on data in 1974 when the Arab oil-embargo caused energy shortages and Congress imposed a national speed limit.
Since vehicle usage has increased since 1974, one must wonder whether or not the amount of fuel conserved under a national speed limit would also increase. That’s exactly the kind of rationale Senator Warner is arriving at. He is now asking the Department of Transportation“at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel-efficient, how much fuel savings would be achieved, and whether it would be reasonable to assume there would be a reduction in prices at the pump if the speed limit were lowered.”
Personally, I believe that instead of imposing a national speed limit, we need to look into an alternate for gas. By freeing ourselves of the oil dependency, our economy will be freed from control by such nations that are in OPEC and we can once again stand atop the global market as the undisputed best. In the meantime, we should do whatever it takes to curb gasoline consumption and lower gas prices. It will not only save lives, but limit our pollution as well. I’m counting down the days til’ gas prices will be .99¢ again.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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