Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[jeffandnicole]

July 24:

Assuming two advance guide signs for exits before the exit direction sign, what is the appropriate distance spread?

The first one should be mayo.  The second should be a squirt of spicy mustard.

[Roadgeekteen]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

[NE2]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

Bill and Ted wanted to make sure Sammy Hagar would succeed. Literally 1984.

[jlam]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

That was the top speed of a Volkswagen van back in the day.

[GaryV]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

So "double nickel" could become common parlance.

[I-55]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

In an effort to reduce signs on the road, state troopers would now display the speed limit on their hands.

[1995hoo]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

Government officials didn't like the idea of a 60-mph speed limit because they felt that using a speed limit based on a mile a minute made it too easy for some people to calculate their arrival times, while also feeling that using 60 mph would be unfair to people who are unable to perform such basic second-grade-level math.

[hotdogPi]

It was a distraction from Watergate.

[kphoger]

They only had to design one speed limit sign for highway use.  This saved a ton of money on manufacturing costs, and those savings ultimately prevented the US economy from completely falling apart during the oil crisis.

[Scott5114]

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

They figured it would be easy to remember because that was where the yellow marker on everyone's speedometer was.

[xonhulu]

It was a desperate attempt to halt the ongoing disintegration of the traditional nuclear family by forcing them to have more bonding time on family road trips.

[JayhawkCO]

They only had to design one speed limit sign for highway use.  This saved a ton of money on manufacturing costs, and those savings ultimately prevented the US economy from completely falling apart during the oil crisis.

And they also only had to produce one numeral.

[webny99]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

Government officials didn't like the idea of a 60-mph speed limit because they felt that using a speed limit based on a mile a minute made it too easy for some people to calculate their arrival times, while also feeling that using 60 mph would be unfair to people who are unable to perform such basic second-grade-level math.

And backed heavily by the auto industry, who didn't want people to start realizing that speedometers aren't that accurate to begin with.

[formulanone]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

So "double nickel" could become common parlance.

55 miles an hour led to increased nickel production; after all, if it worked for Alka-Seltzer, it could work for the US Mint. Unfortunately, the internal losses created by ramped-up production of additional five-cent pieces, the economy led to stagflation. To combat this, stag parties were permitted in 49 states and this led to more inflatable animal production, which led to qualitative easing, but like all economic innovations, zoological parks saw a small decrease in attendance until the portable electric player was introduced in 1978.

[pderocco]

Since Nixon had previously set it to 50 by executive order, his popularity was boosted by raising it to 55.

[kphoger]

July 25th

In 1973, why did the US government mandate that speed limits be limited to 55 MPH?

That was the 85th percentile.