We can't drive… 55
Take our license, all that jive
The Red Rocker Sammy Hagar simply couldn't drive in Iowa,
and based on speed limit legislation soon to be debated
in the Iowa House, we are not so sure we can much longer
either. At least not legally.
Rep. Jack Gonzales, D-Carroll, wonders why automobile
manufacturers are allowed to build cars that knowingly
exceed the speed limit. And, he asks, why does our
state allow the sale of cars that are designed to break
the law? He wants to see legislation passed that will
prevent vehicles from being able to exceed the designated
speed limit. And it just might happen.
Gonzales first needs to understand the complexity of
the speed limits in Iowa as they exist today. Our rural
interstates currently have speed limits of 70 mph with
no distinction made between passenger cars and trucks.
Urban interstate speed limits are usually set at 65
mph with 55 mph speed limits in the cities, such as
Interstate Highway 235 here in Des Moines. However,
the suburban area on I-235 has a speed limit of 60
mph, with 55 mph still the law for the downtown area.
Like us, you may have learned this the hard way.
Heading to the rural area, non-interstate divided highways
in Iowa have speed limits of 65 mph with speeds dropping
to 55 mph in urban areas. Two lane rural state and
county highways are at 55 mph.
With all these speed limits in place, one has to wonder
how any legislation - or any device - could implement
a limit on how fast a motor vehicle can operate.
Gonzales, or "Speedy" as we prefer to call
him, proposes that all automobiles sold in Iowa be
retrofitted with devices that will restrict their speeds
to the legal limit. Such units have been installed
in buses and trucks in Jerusalem since 2005, Gonzales
claims, and have effectively reduced road accidents
there.
Closer to home, a Georgia Injury Law Blog reported
in January that the idea of using speed limiting devices
to restrict speed limits on commercial trucks "has
been floating around for a while now." The blog
claims that in 2006, the American Trucking Association
petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) to mandate 68 mph speed limiting devices on
all trucks weighing 20,000 pounds or more. In January,
NHTSA announced that it would initiate a rule aimed
at getting these devices installed in all trucks with
a stated goal to minimize the risk of speed-related
truck accidents and avoid wrongful deaths.
Gonzales apparently loves this idea but wants to take
it beyond commercial trucks and apply it to your Ford
Taurus, Honda Civic or any other motor vehicle purchased
in Iowa.
We think he's nuts, and here's why.
We Iowans have a need for speed. It's just that simple.
There's no need to castrate some of America's finest
vehicles just because they are purchased in our state,
essentially removing every ounce of vehicular testosterone
they have. Capping the speed of a Corvette is like
being served a 20 ounce T-Bone and being told you can
only eat half of it. It would be cruel and inhumane
punishment.
A better solution would be to focus on increasing the
minimum speed limits in our state. Iowa's rural interstates
have a minimum speed limit of 40 mph. Other four-lane
divided rural highways are signed at 65 mph, with no
minimum speed so as to allow slow-moving farm vehicles
to use the road, too.
We fully realize that Gonzales' Farmall 300 couldn't
exceed 40 mph, and that's exactly why we want the law
changed to a minimum of 50 mph. Let's make sure those
farmers stay in the fields and off the roads. And that
goes for the blue hairs, too. If Grandma can't effectively
press the accelerator enough to get up to 50 mph, then
get her out of the Buick and into a Hoveround. Enough
is enough.
So get real, Gonzales, and don't force Iowa automobiles
to be neutered. You, on the other hand, might want
to give it a try. APRIL FOOLS
