The Arab OIl Embargo actually caused this and people were really upset (especially places that had 75 mph speed limits or above like Colorado and Montana and Wyoming. However, in California where I lived most people still drove around 65 miles per hour if they felt safe enough and kept looking in their rearview mirror for CHP and police depending upon where they lived in the U.S.
They were trying to conserve fuel during the Arab Embargo times where it was not available as much then. And some of the time it was rationed where you were only allowed to buy 5 gallons of gas every other day too. This also brought cars on the market in the U.S. more that were more economical because before this most cars got about 8 to 15 miles per gallon and this was no longer practical to survive economically with much more expensive fuel. So, if you were wondering when more fuel efficient cars started to be made in the U.S. it started in 1960 with the Chevrolet Corvair and then the Ford Falcon and went on from there ever after.
I think the Chevrolet Corvair might have been the first production line car in the U.S. with an Engine and power to the rear wheels which a lot of people liked in the snow or mud for the extra traction. However, a Corvair was really low to the ground so you had to be careful in snow or mud too if it was too deep.
But, the best rear wheel drive car and rear engine car for snow or mud was always the VW Bug. It was like having a 4 wheel drive often for me. Also, I was strong enough then to lift up the fron end of my VW bugs and turn them around a different direction if I got stuck by the front bumper. I could turn my back to it and it was sort of like lifting weights. It was ergonomically possible to not only lift my VW bug but also to spin it around like this to head a different direction too if stuck in mud or snow. Amazing Vehicle for Snow or mud by the way because of this. I owned a 1965 and then a 1966 Bug. I really loved these vehicles from 1966 going to college to 1973 when I sold my last one moving to Hawaii with my first wife and baby.
begin quote from AI Overview
The national 55 mile per hour (mph) speed limit was enacted via the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act signed by President Richard Nixon on January 2, 1974, primarily to conserve gasoline during the 1973 Arab oil embargo.
Key Details of the 55 MPH Law
- The Trigger: The 1973 oil embargo by Arab OPEC nations quadrupled oil prices and created severe gasoline shortages and long lines at American gas stations.
- The Legislation: The federal government withheld highway funds from any state that allowed speeds above 55 mph.
- Fuel Conservation: Lowering top highway speeds was meant to maximize vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil.
Opinions on the actual fuel savings vary; on Quora,
opinions on the real-world impact are mixed, with some noting high
non-compliance and lower overall consumption reductions, while
historical data points to substantial efficiency gains on open highways.
If you'd like, I can share more about:
- The specific economic impacts of the 1970s energy crisis
- How vehicle fuel efficiency changes at different speeds
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These measures included the creation of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a national 55-mile-per-hour speed limit on U.S. highways, and later, President Gerald R ...
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The national 55 mile per hour (mph) speed limit law was enacted as a fuel conservation measure after the 1973 Arab oil embargo, and secondarily, ...
On
January 2, 1974, President Richard Nixon signed into law the Emergency
Highway Energy Conservation Act, which set the nation’s maximum speed
limit ...
Top answer: I often think we should go back to 65 daytime, 55 nighttime speed limits, especially in rural ...
Mar 18, 2026 — To conserve fuel, President Nixon signed legislation setting a maximum national speed limit of 55 mph.
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