Comments on: Lights Out in Hamburg http://www.twobicycles.org/2009/01/lights-out-in-hamburg/ Fri, 23 Sep 2011 23:42:34 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://www.twobicycles.org/2009/01/lights-out-in-hamburg/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Matt Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:56:37 +0000 http://twobicycles.org/?p=174#comment-22 Interestingly enough, the U.S. National speed limit of 55 mph was originally imposed in 1974 to conserve gasoline due to fuel efficiency standards. Since then state-imposed limits have increased, usually to 65 or 75. Some currently call for a decrease again in order to protect human life and property, as (statistically) driving at greater than 50 mph dramatically increases the incidence and severity of collisions due to limitations on human reflexes. A similar argument is made for perpetually lit street lights, as only one collision will end up costing a community (in human life, lost future productivity of those involved, damaged community and private property, and labor of civil servants) far more than the cost of the electricity. Interestingly enough, the U.S. National speed limit of 55 mph was originally imposed in 1974 to conserve gasoline due to fuel efficiency standards. Since then state-imposed limits have increased, usually to 65 or 75. Some currently call for a decrease again in order to protect human life and property, as (statistically) driving at greater than 50 mph dramatically increases the incidence and severity of collisions due to limitations on human reflexes.

A similar argument is made for perpetually lit street lights, as only one collision will end up costing a community (in human life, lost future productivity of those involved, damaged community and private property, and labor of civil servants) far more than the cost of the electricity.

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