The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act was passed in 1974. Under this act, states would only get federal highway funding if they set a speed limit of 55 mph on all four-lane highways. Why would the federal government deny funding the states instead of just directly setting the speed limit?

The federal government wanted to better allocate money by cutting down on highway funding.
State legislatures were not likely to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph on their own.
States were thought to have the right to regulate their own intrastate highways.
Studies by the federal government

Question

The Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act was passed in 1974. Under this act, states would only get federal highway funding if they set a speed limit of 55 mph on all four-lane highways. Why would the federal government deny funding the states instead of just directly setting the speed limit?

 The federal government wanted to better allocate money by cutting down on highway funding.
 State legislatures were not likely to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph on their own.
 States were thought to have the right to regulate their own intrastate highways.
 Studies by the federal government

anonymous · Answer

Studies by the federal government indicated that driving 65 mph was unsafe.

anonymous · Answer

last part was cut off

anonymous · Answer

@iGreen @bahrom7893

anonymous · Answer

@Godisgood

anonymous · Answer

A?

anonymous · Answer

i think not 100% sure

anonymous · Answer

what do you think it is?

anonymous · Answer

i think B but it might be a give me a sec

anonymous · Answer

thanks

anonymous · Answer

i will give you a medal and be your fan

anonymous · Answer

yea it has to be B that the only one that makes secnce

anonymous · Answer

i dont think its b i think its a

solomonzelman · Answer

I forgetting the names of all the terms, but this is a problem of what the limit is. No one is arguing whether there should be or shouldn't be a speed limit.

55 is best logical estimation to be not too fast and not too slow.
~~~~~~~~~
C makes no sense, because it is talking about interstate highways, which are:
+ 70 mph
+ more than 4 lines

solomonzelman · Answer

Okay, for B
State legislatures were not likely to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph on their own? But where does this number "55" mph come from in the first place?

For A,
 The federal government wanted to better allocate money by cutting down on highway funding? but what does this have to do with speed?

anonymous · Answer

State legislatures were not likely to reduce the speed limit to 55 mph on their own.

solomonzelman · Answer

I am thinking it is D, but again, I am very bad at history, (at least when comparing to other subjects)

anonymous · Answer

so all you guys thinks it B?

solomonzelman · Answer

well, if you say so, then you probably have the source... I am just saying some stuff off my head.

I think D, but I am not good at History, so don't just rely on me

anonymous · Answer

I GO WITH B

anonymous · Answer

hopefully it is correct

anonymous · Answer

:)

baconbits · Answer

The reduction in speed limits in the 1973-74 was a reaction to the global oil crisis, in which oil became scarce and prices went up. Nixon wanted to cut U.S. oil consumption, and studies at the time showed that a speed limit of 55 would save on gas. But, the answer you're looking for is this: states are in charge of intrastate* speed limits. The federal government cannot set speed limits on state roads. I would choose C.  States were thought to have the right to regulate their own intrastate highways. 

* "Intrastate" means the road is within state boundaries. "Interstate" means the the road spans many states.