MY SELF-WITNESSING EXPERIMENT
ON
DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT

"The Congress enacted a National speed limit of 55 miles per hour following an oil embargo imposed in 1973 by some Arab nations" (Anonymous. 1986:289). This enactment has led to the permanent standing of 55 miles per hour on freeways today. "According to the Department of Transportation monitoring data, 75.4 percent exceed the 55 mph limit on rural Interstates" (Anonymous, 1986:289).

In this report I would like to share with you some important information which I found was helpful to me in understanding the morality of complying to the speed limit and staying calm while driving.

To begin my term paper I had to do some library research so that I could understand the elements involved in driving the speed limit. I first went to the Hamilton Library on Monday, June 1, 1987 at approximately 8:30 a.m. and left there around 11:15 a.m. Within the 2 hours and 45 minutes I first looked into the Library of Congress Subject Headings (ICSH) and searched for words pertaining to speed limit. I came up with headings such as "Radar in Speed limit Enforcement, automobiles-Speed, Traffic Regulations and Traffic Safety." I then went to OPAC and started to use the Browse Subject listing. But found only a couple of headings, which weren't too good. I then realized that these were only books and figured that there weren't very many books on this subject. I then went to the Reference room and got onto the machine with the large screen and it displayed article titles in Magazines. I looked under Traffic Regulations and it displayed other subject headings that I could also see. Such as "Speed Limits, etc." Looking through all the headings I came out with a long list of different Magazines to look for. I then looked in the book that tells of all the magazines in Hamilton. I found the call numbers and went to the third floor to begin searching. I had a hard time finding these numbers because Hamilton is so big and spread out. I continued searching on the second floor. I found a couple of articles and Xeroxed them before I left hoping there was a lot of information in them. I could only skim through them in the library

On Wednesday, June 3, 1987 I went to the Sinclair library to see if they had different magazines. I arrived at 8:30 a.m. and left around 10:00 a.m. I was surprised to find out how much easier it was to find magazines in Sinclair than in Hamilton. The magazines were in alphabetical order so I just had to go by title. I found about four articles that looked well informed and I Xeroxed them. I then looked into the Hawaii Pamphlet Section, where they keep the newspaper articles according to subjects. But I found nothing pertinent to the speed limits. I then decided to leave.

I went over the articles and highlighted the parts that I felt may be of good use to my paper. This was on Saturday, June 6,1987. I began my baseline on Sunday June 7,1987 till Tuesday June 9, 1987. My intervention period was on Wednesday June 10, 1987 till Friday June 12, 1987.

The information I found in the articles were mostly on changing the speed limit, either raising it or keeping it at 55. But from these articles I received valuable information and statistics that shocked me and helped me develop my mind for the Intervention.

"The 55 mph limit, which came into effect in 1974 was originally designed as a fuel conservation measure. There was a noticeable drop in both highway travel and fatalities during the gasoline shortage, and the speed limit was given credit for the reduction in fatalities. Safety replaced fuel conservation as the main feature of speed limit policy and Congress made the 55 mph speed limit permanent" (Anonymous, 1986:289). Now as the times are changing and fuel prices are more stable people want to raise the speed limit, despite the positives that the 55 mph has given us. Such as "a law that saves 2000-4000 lives a year" (Anonymous, 1986:28) and "federal officials claim that slower speeds have helped cause a 60-70 percent decline in paralyzing spinal cord injuries over the past decade. The annual number of automobile accidents that produce severe head injuries has dropped by 90,000" (Anonymous, 1984.11).

Another thing that really shocked me was the argument of the time difference as a major factor. It's been proven that only 7 hours a year would be given up by each person for driving 55 instead of 65 mph.

I have decided to do my baseline intervention on the amount of times a day I go over the speed limit. The amount of speed that I go over is not pertinent to this intervention because I want to be able to drive at exactly the speed limit. The graph that follows is the amount of times I exceed the speed limit daily.

I will be transcribing parts of my tape because of some things that I wish for you not to hear. I left the recorder on through- out the drive so I wouldn't be disturbed to pause and unpause the tape. I also would like for you to know exactly when and where I droves

SUNDAY:
1:00 p.m. to my boyfriends house in Waipahu, 5 miles
4:00 p.m. to my house, 5 miles

MONDAY: 6:15 a.m. to my boyfriends house, 5 miles
6:45 a.m. to Queen Emma Bldg. Downtown, 15 miles
3:00 p.m. to my house, 5 miles

TUESDAY: 6:30 a.m. to my boyfriends house, 5 miles
3:30 p.m. to my house, 5 miles
5:00 p.m. to Ala Moana, 15 miles 9:00 p.m. to my house, 15 miles

SUNDAY: 1:00 p.m.

Reversing out of driveway...Watch for people and cars... Going 25 mph...Slow and stop-Red light...Car across...Put blinker on (to turn left)...Turn left...Going 30 mph-down hill...Hurry up or I'll be late...Green light...Go, going 25...going 30...going 35...Hardly any cars I'm careful. ..Speed limit 25...slow Police station coming up...slow must turn right...No cars...Go right...Speed is 35. Increased to 45...Speed limit 35...It's 1:12...I have to be there by 1:15...slow traffic light...green-continue speed...turn right...watch for cars...slow-residential...25 mph. 4:00 p.m. Go slow-residential with a lot of kids...stop turn right ...blinker...turning...sign says 15 mph limit...incline- going 25 mph...now 30 mph...slow-sharp turn...watch bumps and holes...slow car in front with right signal...going 30-35 mph...limit 25...stoplight-caution....slight turn. ..car behind coming up fast... increase speed 35 mph... incline hill press gas harder...slow-merging to turn right ...stop...many cars...opening-go fast...speed 40...slow slight turn...merge left...speed 45...limit 35...stop-traffic light red...turn left...incline-speed 35...limit 25.... turn right...turn into driveway.

MONDAY: 6:15 a.m.

Waiting at traffic light... I already reversed out of driveway...and came to stop light...forgot to turn on tape 8 when leaving driveway...blinker on-left...turning...speed 30...limit 25...yeah! made it through traffic light...speed 35...approaching police station... get ready to slow... traffic light green go through...turn right...stop...wait ...go to extreme left lane...speed 35...limit 35....hill incline...more pressure-40 mph... limit 35...continuous speed...slow-turn right...stop-blinker on...turn left... watch bumps and pot holes...speed 30...sharp turn-limit 15...speed 20 mph...decline hill-25 mph speed...turn right ...stop in front of house.
6:45 a.m.
Turning left...turning right...turning left...turning right...watch bumps and holes...drive carefully-boyfriend in car...turn right...on-ramp to freeway...speed 40...limit 25...merge...cars going fast...increase speed to 55...increase to 65...extreme left lane...car coming up behind fast...car going around...maintain speed...slow slightly-merging... change to extreme left again...uphill-increase to 65...stop and go there's traffic...slow now much traffic...better- speed 60...watch car in front carefully...sometimes unexpected stops...watch for police...slow-bumpy dots on road ...through tunnel-slow down come to merging...relax calm down...just ease your way into traffic...stop and go... right lane-Vineyard exit...slow-traffic light ahead...speed same as limit-minor traffic...right turn...right turn... left turn into parking lot...park car.

MONDAY: 3:00 p.m.

Forgot to tape myself...writing what I can remember... broke the speed limit on highway limit was 35 mph- was going 40-45 mph I slowed for a policeman I went up my hill I was going approx. 30-33 mph speed limit is 25 mph There was a lot of cars around, they were going about 30 turned left into my street turned right into my house.

TUESDAY: 6:30 a.m.

Reversing out of driveway...slow and stop at traffic light ...hurry light I'm late...finally...turning left...going 35 mph downhill...oh no stop for another red light...go...turning left slow and watch for cars...a lot of cars on the road but they're all going fast...I'll keep up with them...going 45 mph in a 35 mph zone...change lane ...go straight...red light ahead...take the short cut through Times... watch speed bumps... turn right ...I beat the other cars...turn left...making sharp turn...slow down...turning right...slow residential...stop in front of house.
3:30 p.m.
Residential area go slow...turn right...slow while taking turn... sharp turn go slowly...car behind following close go a little faster...speed 40 mph...caution cars turning ...watch the slight turn...avoid bumps...put blinker on get ready to turn right...change lane...slow around turns 1 0 a little too curvy...merge left...not too fast on slight downhill...press the gas...there may be cops...merge left two lanes...stop at traffic light...turn left...slow as you pass police station...speed limit now 35 mph...go faster ...speed now 40 mph...slow turn right...turn right into driveway.
5:00 p.m.
Reversing out of driveway...stop at traffic light...turn left...turning left again...speed 40 mph limit 35 mph... go onto on-ramp at 35 mph...limit is 25 mph...merging left ...no traffic...driving at 65 mph...I'll go airport way.. maintaining speed...slow car in front...changing lane... maintaining speed...going through tunnel better slow... a little traffic...be careful when merging left...slow moving stop and go traffic...take cut-off...slow stay in right lane...turn right...go through green light...turn left...turning left into building...park car...plenty of space.
9:00 p.m.
coming out of parking lot...turn left...turn left at traffic light...making a U-turn...going onto on-ramp of freeway... caution I have to merge left...increase speed car is coming fast...change lane again...speed is 65 mph...maintaining speed...slow...coming to off-ramp...go slower I have to merge...stop traffic light...turn right...turn right again ...turn into driveway.

My intervention was that if I went over the speed limit more than 5 times a day, I would have to clean one of three rooms in my house. These three rooms were the messiest rooms, my bedroom the patio and the bathroom. Since my intervention was three days I picked only three rooms and made a deal with my mom. This is exactly where I drove on the 3 days:

WEDNESDAY:
7:00 a.m. to U-H, 15 miles
1:00 p.m. to Ala Moana Beach, 5 miles
6:00 p.m. to my house, 5 miles

THRUSDAY:
11:30 a.m. to my boyfriends house, 5 miles
3:00 p.m. to my house, 5 miles

FRIDAY:
6:15 a.m. to my boyfriends house, 5 miles
6:45 a.m. to Down town, 15 miles
3:00 p.m. to my house, 5 miles

WEDNESDAY: 7:00 a.m.

Reversing out of driveway...remember to drive the speed limit...stop...turn left...keep foot on brake, there is a downhill slope...slow...turn left...speed 35 mph... limit 35 mph...slow-on ramp to freeway...ramp limit 25 mph... speed 30 mph...Oh no only 4 more times I can go over speed limit...slow-merging traffic...stop and go speed...there is traffic...faster moving traffic I am staying at speed limit...I'm in the right lane...most of the other cars are going over the speed limit and passing me by...going over speed now 60 mph...slow down ...seems like I'm going slower than speed limit...I can't resist going faster...having a hard time staying at 55 mph...taking university cut-off...slow while on off ramp...turn right...turn right again...slow while going to parking structure...park car...only 3 times I can over going home.
1:00 p.m.
Coming out of parking lot...remember to drive the speed limit...turn left...stop...I have to turn left I hope the car in front goes right away...turning left...go slow...speed limit...turn right...limit is 35 mph...I'm going 35 mph...good so far...turn right...I'm going 40 mph...slow down...turn left...parking the car. 14
6:00 p.m.
Residential area remember to go slow...turn left...limit is 15 mph.. I'm trying to go the limit but I'm going 25 mph...now the limit is 25 mph so I am going the speed limit...the car behind is tailing me...keep your cool...I'm right I'm going the speed limit...just keep your eye on the road...oh no my speed is 30 mph... relax...slow down...turn right...keep at speed limit... turn left...up the hill remember limit is 35 mph... going 35 mph...only a little more till I'm home...turn right...turn into driveway...I did it now only if I can keep it up.

THURSDAY

6:30 a.m.
Remember to drive the speed limit...I just reversed out of the driveway...I'm waiting for the light to change ...turning left...go slow while going down the hill... my speed is 35 mph the limit...slow down coming to 25 mph zone...turning right...going at the speed of 35 mph ...going up a slight hill press gas a little harder... oh no too much I'm going 40 mph...slowing down...relax ...stop at stop light...turning right...slow at sharp turn...going too fast...25 mph...turn right...stop in front of house...relax a little.
3:00 p.m.
Remember I'm in a residential are...drive slowly...I'm going the speed limit...turn right...turn left...decided to go home a different way because I can't go 15 mph at that sharp turn...turn left...speed limit here is 35 mph...I am going 35 mph...stop traffic light...I am in left lane better change to right lane be cause the car behind is following close...okay now road is a little empty...just relax...turn left...watch speed while going up hill...turn right turn into driveway...it's getting better, only one more day.

FRIDAY:

6:15 a.m.
Reversing out of driveway...stop at traffic light... turn left...watching my speed limit...I'm going 35 mph ...I'm slowing for the speed change...turning right... going at the speed of 35 mph...watch the bus he's changing lane...not much cars on the road...stop at traffic light ...turn right...going slow.. r watch for cars...turn right ...turn left...turn right...stop in front of house... not bad for today.
6:45 a.m.
turning around in the other direction...drive cautiously my friends in the car sleeping...turn left...turn right ...turn left again...and right...watch the hole in the road...turn right onto on-ramp...speed limit 30 mph... I'm going 40 mph...keeping up with the cars...merge left ...driving at 55 mph...all the cars are passing me by ...don't go faster...relax keep calm...merging with other traffic...now there is much traffic...slow...stop and go...there is traffic now...taking cut-off...slowing down to speed limit...stop...turn right...right again ...turning into parking lot...park car.
3:00 p.m.
Residential area watch for kids and drive slowly... turn right...turn left...going the limit...turn left again...going at the speed of 35 mph...I feel more relaxed not as nervous or tense...easier to keep attention on road...driving at 37 mph better slow down...stop-traffic light...hardly any cars on road...turning left...watch my speed when going up hill...don't rush...relax... almost home...keep going at 35 mph...turn right...and right into my driveway.





Chart Of Affective, Cognitive & Psychomotor Behavior

	Affective	Cognitive	Psychomotor
Library Research	Feeling lost in Hamilton Library I hate going to the library Hoping there was much information in articles	Getting mixed up about the call numbers I better go or I won't finish my report in time Skimming over the articles in the library	Looking at every shelf to find the call numbers Walking to the library Looking for keywords such as speed limit, speed, regulations, etc.
Baseline	I hate reversing out of a parking space or a driveway I dislike driving at the speed limit I hate being late I hate being bounced around in the car	I may hit someone or something The other drivers are getting mad at me and following close I'll have to drive in traffic otherwise It's not good for my car	Watch for cars or pedestrians Increase in spedd to over the speed limit Increase in speed Avoid potholes & bumps
Intervention	I hate reversing out of a parking space or a driveway I hate when people are following close to me I feel nervous I feel more relaxed, not as tense or nervous	I may hit someone or something I'm right. I'm driving at the speed limit The driver behind me wants me to go faster I'm driving legally	Watch for cars & pedestrians Continue at the speed limit Motion to him that he can cut in front of me Continue at the speed limit

After going over my paper I realize how easy it was to write 20 pages. At first I thought I would never be able to write that much but after doing this I realize that it is not that much. The part that took me the longest and was the most aggravating was the typing. I can't type fast and I make a lot of mistakes. I also believe that if I had a computer I would have had a much easier time. Maybe I'll look into it.

The amount of time I spent at the library could have been more. would have understood the project more if I had more information. I should have started earlier. Perhaps there wasn't enough time. Taking this class during a semester would have been easier. I think this was too big a project for the summer.

But anyway I'm glad I'm done and everything's over. Good luck to the rest of you!

Anonymous (1986). National 55 MPH Speed Limit. Congressional Digest, December 1986;289.

Anonymous (1984). 55-mph Speed Limit Passes a Milestone. U.S. News & World Report, January 23, 1986:11.

Anonymous (1986). Time to raise 55-mph speed limit?. U.S. News & World Report, May 19, 1986:28.

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