Ok, this got my attention. I grew up in Montana. Shortly before I got my drivers license the federally imposed speed limit was repealed. Montana went back to no daytime speed limit. That is correct. The signs actually read “reasonable and prudent”. I took a picture of one for historical purposes.
Repealing the speed limit was not a disaster in terms of carnage. It was a disaster in terms of enforcing the “reasonable and prudent” law. Today Montana has a daytime speed limit because of legal challenges. If I recall correctly, sometime soon after the speed limit went away, a study showed the average statewide speed increased maybe 1-2 mph and that was largely attributed to out of state drivers pushing the limits of good sense when they hit the border. Most residents didn’t change their driving habits at all. The previous federal speed limit had been pretty much ignored as the standard fine was just five dollars.
I’m not sold on the theory that self regulation can never be effective. I think if penalties for major screwups are certain and visibly enforced, even corporations might act in their own self interests and obey the regulations on the books. Who wants to bet if BP is taken down hard that all the other big oil companies will take a round turn on making SURE it doesn’t happen to them?
Just wanted to throw a counter idea out. I’m cynical enough to expect BP to get off relatively easy.
