Let's be frank. Most of us speed, at least a little. Many studies have shown that current speed limits on highways are set at rather low speeds and are often chosen in an unscientific and rather arbitrary manner. The Interstate Highway System was originally designed to allow for a normal traffic flow of 75 mph. You might think a "Speed Limit 75" sign in your town (unless you live out West and already have them) would cause immediate carnage, but think for a moment. There are many, many miles of well-paved, spacious highways that almost beg motorists to travel at such speeds. Many European countries already have speed limits much higher than ours (take France, for example, and their roughly 80 mph speed limits), to say nothing of the German autobahn and its well-engineered roads with no speed limit.
Ideally, we should campaign against drunk driving and aggressive driving and in favor of reserving the left lane for passing and driving courteously. For those uncomfortable with the idea of no Interstate speed limits, I propose a system of electronic speed limit signs that can be varied according to conditions. If there is light traffic, I believe we should be allowed to travel at considerably higher speeds than we do now, especially with the advances in automobile technology and safety. If there is heavy traffic in an area, electronic speed limit signs could be adjusted downward to alert motorists in advance and get them to slow down. Reasonable speed limits would also have the benefit of encouraging compliance, since research shows many drivers simply ignore "Speed Limit 55" signs when conditions clearly permit travel at higher speeds.
Many will argue that high speeds reduce fuel economy. Actually, stop-and-go traffic and aggressive driving is worse than cruising along at 80 mph. I know I get great fuel economy at high speeds. Let's make that legal.
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Another thing we should promote, alongside courteous driving, is high quality driver's ed (that also emphasizes usage of turn signals, attention to the road, keeping right except to pass, giving way to faster or merging drivers, checking mirrors, and such).
This is the 21st Century, we shouldn't have to keep the Speed Limit at, say, 55 or 65 merely because at certain times of day that limit would be appropriate. We should be able to get around that and use technology to truly match speed limits to conditions and grant Americans liberty on the roads!
Speeding and parking and seatbelt tickets are not about safety. They are about revenue raising.
If we forced all local and state governments to pay a 150% federal tax on any fines they collect from drivers and passengers, they would suddenly be willing to allocate more resources to robberies, rapes, murders, and the crimes with victims which most of us would rather they deal with, instead of speeding and parking tickets.
This might also get the federal government a nice chunk of change, which could be useful in paying for the many other things suggested here.
Speed limits save energy. The difference in consumption relative to speed is HUUUUGE, and almost no one knows how much of a difference it makes. If these figures were widely circulated (TV commercials) people would CHOOSE to drive slower.