Ha! I was driving back then, and I, like most Americans, did not change my driving habits. The guy who wrote this article probably takes a cab to work. But if you live in the West, where you may have to drive 75 miles to get to a decent store, then you will drive there going 85 mph, despite what the speed limit is. Who is going to give me a ticket? The one officer who is patrolling a 200 mile stretch (both ways..)? Nope. We'll ignore the silliness of a fake speed limit and just continue driving as fast as we please.
One is still allowed to vote with one's right foot out West.