An enduring theme in my little world is the war between "science" and science. This idea is not new, but I seem to have gotten the narrative entirely backwards, given that I think "science" is the usual view of the "scientific" and activist establishment, held more for social, religious, monetary, and altruistic reasons than due to evidence.

One bit of "science" which has been foisted on us since the Carter administration was the belief that we had to have a universal, federal 55-MPH because it saved lives. What extensive researched backed up this idea before it was implemented on a national scale?

Er, um...

Today, 33 states have limits of at least 70 mph. A dozen allow 75, while Texas and Utah both authorize 80. Far from becoming less safe, U.S. roads experienced a decline in the fatality rate year on year as these limits began to rise. In the final days of 55 mph, the fatality rate stood at 1.73 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled. According to the latest U.S. Department of Transportation data, that rate dipped by a third last year to an all-time low of 1.16.

This improvement in morality rates isn't, apparently, a mere artifact of better vehicular lifesaving technologies, but seems to correlate with fewer accidents:

On Oct. 1, 2007, the speed limit on a 37-mile stretch of Interstate 85 was increased to 70 mph. The Washington Times requested accident data to evaluate the impact. Although Virginia Department of Transportation officials caution that it is too early to draw a scientifically reliable conclusion, the preliminary data are encouraging. There were no more deaths on the higher-speed section of highway, and the percentage of severe crashes declined slightly.

To be fair, I do suspect the 55-MPH speed limit saved fuel, though (another motivation for its Carter-era promulgation). And who cares about a few lives being lost as long as fewer gallons of gasoline are consumed?

... which, come to think of it, also reminds me of another favorite bit of traffic "science" — red-light cameras — in this way:

How the change does make a difference is that it prevents the majority of motorists from being preyed upon as a revenue source through speeding tickets.