I was glad to read that Maryland is considering raising it's absurdly low speed limits ("Maryland Senate votes to raise maximum speed limit to 70 mph," Feb. 19)
In the 1970s, when cars got 13 mpg and had only drum brakes and lap seat belts, lowering the speed limit was a sound safety move that also saved gas.
Today's cars, however, are much safer and get better gas mileage at higher speeds. They are equipped with antilock brakes, three-point harnesses and air bags, and their steering is much more nimble, allowing drivers to react to situations faster.
The new engines are designed to get better gas mileage at faster speeds. On a recent four-hour trip to Cumberland, my Honda, which averages about 28 mpg, got 36 mpg on that mainly 65-mph highway. It even has a "gas mileage meter" that indicates whether the engine is operating optimally.
I see more danger from those who insist on going slow in the left lane, out of what appears to be a "the limit is 55 and the heck with everyone else" attitude. That causes other drivers to make potentially risky moves to get around them.
If you're being passed on the right, move over — or, as the signs on the road command: "Slower traffic keep right."
Having a higher speed limit will make such drivers either pick up the pace or drive at a speed they are comfortable with in a slower lane.
Our state is known for interfering with people's ability to be responsible for themselves. This is a very good way to start curtailing that, and I hope that the limits on highways like I-95 and I-695 are finally raised to accommodate what modern automobiles can safely handle.
D. Keith Henderson, Perry Hall