Thought Provoking, Insightful News & Analysis

Traffic Stopping News! Monday, May 10, 2004!
Plan To Increase The Speed Limit To 100 MPH Will Cut Traffic Congestion

An innovative new plan may end traffic jams like this.

Transportation expert Eldstien Jekbertsin has written a controversial book that is getting a lot of attention from transportation officials and the general public. In the book, “Transportation For The 21st Century,” Jekbertsin proposes increasing the speed limits on highways to 100 MPH or more, and 75 MPH on city streets. Jekbertsin convincingly argues that raising the speed limits way up and cracking down on slow drivers, not fast drivers, would drastically reduce traffic jams.

“The plan makes sense,” says Seattle traffic engineer Herbert Wangtang. “In Seattle or Los Angeles, two cities with notorious gridlock, you have traffic going at 25 to 30 MPH where the speed limit is 55 MPH—about half the speed. If the speed limit were 100 MPH the cars would travel at 50 MPH—about half the speed-- during heavy traffic. But theoretically the traffic wouldn't go that slow because the police would strictly ticket people who drive slow.”

Commuters are buying up Jekbertsin's book and writing to government officials to enact Jekbertsin's traffic plan. Eddie Gordavert, who sits in traffic daily commuting to work in the San Fransisco bay area says, “I have read Jekbertsin's book. It's a common sense way to get rid of traffic congestion. I am writing to both Bush and Kerry and I will tell them whoever makes Jekbertsin Secretary of Transportation will get my vote.”

Traffic jams are an enormous drain on the GDP. According to the Progressive Policy Institute Americans waste 67 billion dollars a year because of traffic jams. The average American wastes 62 hours a year in traffic--and it's worse in many cities.

Stop and go traffic also wastes gas. We waste almost 6 billion gallons of fuel, and 3.6 billion hours idling in traffic jams. Getting rid of traffic congestion will decrease global green house gases. In his book, Jekbertsin argues that future floods and environmental havoc from global warming will surely kill more people than a few traffic accidents from faster driving.

Jekbertsin says, “We have it completely backward in this country. We fine people who speed, but we should be ticketing and cracking down on slow drivers.”

Jekbertsin admits that surely there will be increased traffic fatalities, “The automobile is not a smart system of transportation. Until Americans demand on living closer to shopping and work and a New York or European type public transit system expands Americans will have to live with the drawbacks of an auto centered transit system. We have the choice: a few more traffic deaths, or increased gridlock, traffic jams and time and money wasted. I believe the majority of Americans are willing to sacrifice a few people to rid ourselves of the terrible traffic congestion that plagues our cities.”

Not everyone likes Jekbertsin's traffic plan. The National Traffic Safety Organization issued a statement saying, “We believe Jekbertsin's plan will result in numerous traffic accidents that would outweigh the benefits of faster travel times.”

The American Association of Retired People said, “The Jekbertsin traffic plan denies older Americans the right to drive at a safe and leisurely pace.”

Carl McFondue, a Jekbertsin advocate, lashed back when he heard the AARP's statement, “People should not have the option to drive slow. Either floor it or stay at home. People are sick of wasting time in traffic and it is about time that we crack down on people who block our way.”