POWER PLAY: SPEED IS RELATIVE; END THE FEDERAL LIMIT

The thrill of acceleration is one of the great joys in life.

Get behind the wheel of an overpowered sports car, pop in a tape of Deep Purple's "Highway Star" or the speedier selections from Suicidal Tendencies to set the proper mood, and roar off down the interstate at Warp Factor Nine with blatant disregard for public safety.

It is a rite of passage for many young men. Most of us, however, outgrow the phase. Either that or we become professional race car drivers or state troopers.

Eventually the day arrives when the number of points on the driver's license rivals the number of consecutive baseball games played by Cal Ripken Jr., and the six-month premium for insurance coverage closely resembles the annual defense budget of a small European nation.

At that point the old Firebird with the powerful 350 pulled out of a 1973 LeMans is traded in for a Volkswagen Beetle and one begins to adjust to life in the slow lane.

Not everybody learns of course. On rare occasions that I still ride with one particular friend of mine, I just close my eyes to avoid the dizziness caused by the scenery whizzing by and try my best to think happy thoughts despite Metallica blaring from the stereo. At the same time, I hope we don't hit any pedestrians or large, solid objects. If we remain on the pavement without lurching off the ground when we go over bumps, I consider it a successful trip.

I have developed more concern for my own well-being than that of others. I guess I'm finally conscious of my own mortality. In the past several years, seldom have I consciously crept more than 2 or 3 mph over the speed limit.

Now Congress is mulling over the idea of repealing the national speed limit and letting states handle it instead. Few would be surprised to hear that this plan is extremely popular to most denizens of the roadways.

Most people who have driven extensively through the country would probably agree there are certain areas where 70-80 mph wouldn't be unreasonable.

The Safety Police are having a fit over this kind of talk, which should also come as no surprise.

They point to the decrease in the number of highway deaths since the federally mandated top speed of 55 was introduced in 1973. Of course many other factors combined to play a big part in that decline -- increased use of seat belts, acute awareness to the dangers of driving while intoxicated and safer vehicles with neat little toys like dual air bags.

Another -- though often overlooked -- contributing factor is the end of the popularity of disco on radio play lists. Thousands of motorists likely died fiery deaths in the late 1970s from attempting to spell out YMCA while driving and listening to the Village People. The estimated toll inflicted from mimicking John Travolta while listening to "Stayin' Alive" is too horrible to even contemplate.

Unfortunately, the true scope of the Disco Factor is unlikely to be known as traffic safety groups never conduct that sort of research. Not reputable traffic safety groups anyway.

In the final analysis, people are going to drive as fast as they want regardless of the posted speed. Otherwise, why would the radar detection industry be booming. Let the highway planners determine what the safe speed for a particular stretch of road is and leave it at that.

And pray to God that disco never makes a revival.

~Marc Powers is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.