With the introduction of the automobile in the early 1900s, laws were instituted to protect drivers on the road. With these laws come lawbreakers who put their agenda ahead of the well-being of others. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, billions of dollars have been spent, and pollution has increased exponentially due to drivers traveling at high speeds on the roads (Hartman). To save fuel and save lives, the national speed limit of fifty-five (55) miles per hour must be reinstated. Driving 55 miles per hour or less saves fuel. Billions of barrels of oil and gas are used each year to enable Americans to travel at high speeds across the country. Unfortunately, high speeds lead to high fuel costs. A person driving 70 miles per hour uses significantly more gasoline than a person driving 55 miles per hour. For example, a businessman who has to travel all over the United States is forced to fill up his gas tank often. However, if that same man drives at a safe speed of 55, then he won't need to refuel as much. Indeed, when the speed limit is reduced, all drivers see their fuel economy increase. When drivers fuel up less, it also puts more money in their pockets. Recently, a test was conducted to see if driving at fifty-five in a normal car would prove to be the most fuel-efficient speed. A 2009 Honda Civic was filled with 12.99 gallons of gasoline, then a driver was able to drive a total of 590.5 miles before having to stop to refuel. While the car averaged 45 miles per gallon over 550 highway miles, the Civic received the advertised 25 miles per gallon during city driving. Traveling nearly 600 miles in a Honda Civic is unheard of, but it was possible because the driver was in the middle of a paper......from a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Works Cited Carrington, Damian. “Increasing speed limits would increase deaths and pollution, government admits.” Guardian September 30, 2011, daily n. page. Internet. December 5, 2011 Friedman, Lee, Donald Hedeker and Elihu Richter. “Long-term effects of repealing the national maximum speed limit in the United States.” American Journal of Public Health. October 3, 2010: 1-4. Internet. December 5, 2011 Hartman, JP “Road”. World Book Encyclopedia. 16. Chicago: 1995. Print. WorldBook, Inc. “Obey all speed limits and never exceed 55 mph. » iDrive55. iDrive55. Internet. December 5, 2011 “Questions and answers: speed and speed limits. » Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway LossDate Institute. Road Safety Research and Communications, May 2011. Web. 5Dec. 2011 Schultz, William. “Would you drive 55?” » Time US, July 25, 2008: n. page. Internet. 5Dec.. 2011.