I agree with the students that there is a problem, but I don't think what they did was safe. If it is argued the the whole issue is speed limits and safety, then why would you do something that is unsafe, simply to prove a point, which is in fact already proven by the fact that so many exceed the posted limit?.
The Federal government imposed a national 55MPH limit during the energy crisis of 70's by withholding Fed Hwy funds from states that did not comply, it was simple a state could set any limit it wanted, but if it was in excess of 55 no money. This was done because most interstates were designed for safe trave at 75MPH with 1950's technology given a rural population density. The point is that since 55MPH was repealed, states have been wrestling with what is a reasonable and prudent speed, given the changes in technology and population density.
I beleive the University of NC did a study in late 80's or early 90's that concluded that most people drove at a speed that was reasonable and prudent, meaning that most of those people on the DC beltway are driving at a speed at which they feel comfortable, even if it is in violation of the speed limit. To suggest that todays speed limits have a basis in safety is not entirely correct. As 55MPH was certainly not a safety issue but an energy issue.
When 55 was repealed most states almost immediately raised limits on interstates, but without conducting studys to determine what an appropriate speed would be. In the end I think the students would have been better off starting a lobbying campaign to commision some comprehensive studies, but instead I think they wanted to feel important but having an effect on traffic. While they were not breaking the law with respect to speed limits, failure to yeild to faster moving traffic is a violation in most states so that person in the left lane could have been ticketed.
just my .02.
PS I have worked in the insurance industry for 10 years and can tell you that there have been inside studies that have shown that dissimilar speeds is a bigger cause of accidents than is speeding alone.
