Why not mandate a national 55 mph speed limit immediately?

[SCDem]

So that everyone is forced to be more fuel efficient and at the same time they can feel like they are doing something to help ward off the panic. It would take a President ready and able to accept criticism knowing that it was for the greater good.

Oh how I wish we had a leader :(

[davepc]

1. My focus gets better MPG at 70mph then 55.

[Tace]

2. I'll Bet We See The Double-Nickle And Gas Rationing

before this all plays out.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Good idea. But the Repukes don't like being told what to do

It worked in the 70's, it could help now.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Why do we need a 340hp motor in a 2700 pound vehicle?

To waste fuel, I guess. And even worse is a 400+hp motor in a 3 ton supermarket errand vehicle.

I bet there will be some great deals on used big SUV's before long.

[chelsea0011]

4. These are simple solutions that a simpleton can't figure out.

Lowering the speed limit, price controls, asking the country to conserve energy. If Bush got on telelvision and demanded the country conserve and listed the many ways how, it would go a long way. Hell, having buildings going black at night will go along way. There are simple solutions. But a simpleton running things.

[dcfirefighter]

5. because nobody likes it

and no politician, or political party wants to support this when it really wouldn't make that much of a difference.

Put another way, me driving 10 miles at 70 mph doesn't burn as much gas as you driving 20 miles at 55 mph.

[SCDem]

9. But I disagree to some point

I think just like giving blood on 9/11 if everyone were asked to do something (and everyone not just those that have cash that they can send... they should already have sent it) and a competent President explaining how this is for the greater good .... there would be grumbling but I think it would die down.

Who cares how much you drive... if you don't have to drive as far I don't think that should allow you to go 20 mph faster that's ridiculous.

[Strelnikov_]

21. 5.1% Reduction In Refined Product

Considering we have 10% of refinery capacity off line, I would say it is very significant, as it could be implemented immediately.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Apples v. Grasshoppers

How convenient that you DOUBLED the distance! Let me turn it back on you. How much gas would i burn at 55mph, instead of your 70 for ten miles, if i just drove 2 miles.

Duh!
The Professor

[corkhead]

at the risk of sounding like a repuke...

"market forces will encourage drivers to operate their vehicles in the most efficient manner without government intervention"

[SCDem]

10. sane response and refute to your argument - the Hummer

[corkhead]

12. I drive a 43 mpg Toyota Echo

that does better at 55 than at 75. The cost of gas has already had a direct impact on how I drive.

Lowering the speed limit I feel would cost me even more of my freedom because of the idiots that bought gas hogs.

I say we ration gas instead.

:evilgrin:

[ecstatic]

7. speed limit is that in most places

And most people (including myself) go at least 15 miles over.

[seemunkee]

8. A cars transmission gearing controls what speed is most efficient

55 is right inbetween gears for me and would be highly inefficient. Timing traffic lights in the city would be a better solution to not wasting fuel.

[MadHound]

11. What, and prevent his oily masters from extracting that massive cash?

Puhleeze friend, you're mistaking the chimp for a man with some brains, compassion and common sense. He's going to keept that speed limit up there because his oily masters want to keep setting new record profits.

And yes, we are in desperate need of a leader right now, and it seems that neither party can cough one up in a crisis.

[MN ChimpH8R]

13. I burn a lot more gas per mile sitting in traffic jams

than I do at normal highway speeds. My Aurora's efficiency maxes out at around 28 mpg at 70 mph.

edited for spelling

[Lost4words]

14. Not a good idea. When mass transit is an option many people use it!

[SCDem]

16. OK screw it then! Because there are not immediate fixes

we will drive like hogs because we can and should and blah blah blah.

I just thought this time in crisis we could all help but forget I guess people don't want to be inconvenienced.

BTW I drive a Honda Civic Hybrid - and instead of putting gas in my tank this morning I made my way to check my tire pressure and up it a few psi while people were idling their cars in line to get gas. I'm driving slower and breaking sooner. Just thought we could all work a bit extra hard to get whatever kind of car we currently have to be more fuel efficient.

[Strelnikov_]

15. Reduction To 55 mph Could Reduce Oil Consumption By 3.4% In US

The more significant impact is that it would reduce transport fuel consumption by 5.1% which is critical considering that the current shortage is in refined product.

But it looks like you are getting the usual responses, the 'my car gets better at 70', even though drag is 62% greater at this speed and is contrary to any research on typical passenger cars that has been conducted; 'gradual starts are more important', yes helps, but drag at 75 mph is still 86% greater. Again, most seem to take the approach that the rationale for any measure that may take a bit of sacrifice is flawed, worthless and will have no benefit.

The following report estimates a 3.4% reduction in oil consumption.

Saving Oil in a Hurry: Measures for Rapid Demand Restraint in Transport
International Energy Agency
28 February 2005

http://www.stcwa.org.au/journal/210405/files/background_IEA.pdf

The tables below are from the report following publication and summarize fuel savings from speed reduction to 55 mph.


Table 2-35: Consensus estimate of effect of reducing speed limit to 90 km/hr

US /Canada

Thousand barrels saved per day 727 (672 US 2001 data)
Percent transport fuel saved 6.2% (5.1% @ US 13.1 M bbl/dy)
Percent total fuel saved 4.7% (3.4% @ US 19.5 M bbl/dy)


Table 2-29: Fuel Economy by Speed, based on ORNL
Percent Change In Fuel Economy

55–65 mph 11.0%
65–75 mph 17.7%
55–75 mph 30.6%

Note: Based on Model years 1988–97 automobiles and light trucks, based on tests of 9 vehicles.

[SCDem]

17. Thank you!

I felt like saying F*ck it and said as much in the post above yours.

[davepc]

22. I've done the measuring and the math myself on my own vehicle

on my own commute.

at 70mph i use less gas per week then at 55. The gearing of the transmission has a lot to do with it.

The government can lower the limit all it wants, I'm still going to drive my vehicle at a speed which gets me higher MPG, uses less fuel, and costs me less money.

And I don't know how relevant studies done on 1988 automobiles are worth to people who have 2002 automobiles.

[Strelnikov_]

25. Your Results, Sir, Are Contrary To All The Research I Have Done

With all due respect, I am not going to change my position based on a few internet postings that contradict research conducted by Oak Ridge National laboratory, the IEA, experience with my own vehicles, and physics.

Guess you got a really efficient car.

[Nihil]

26. Interesting transmission you have there

You do 70mph with fewer revs per minute than at 55mph?

Both times cruising along at a flat speed under the same traffic
conditions?
(i.e., not being brought down to "approximately 55" by other vehicles
that require inefficient acceleration/deceleration cycles or just
watching a MPG-meter whilst accelerating through 55 to 70?)

Not only fewer revs but significantly fewer as to offset the effect
of drag (even on your highly polished shiny clean low cD vehicle)?

Definitely interesting.

[EnfantTerrible]

18. And when people ignore it

they could send the revenues from the speeding tickets for disaster relief.

[SCDem]

19. An excellent idea!

[beetbox]

20. Excellent Idea

We should also dramatically reduce all air travel.

1. Insist on complete transparancy of the world's oil reserves and production on a well by well basis.
2. Make national energy independence a national economic and security goal
3. Create an energy efficiency ethic in society that abhors wasteful behaviors
4. Raise fuel economy standards for passenger cars and trucks - encourage adoption of hybrids, electric plug-ins and other more sustainable automobile designs
5. Re-institute the 55 mph speed limit for maximum efficiency
6. Decrease traffic through better design, congestion pricing, more telecommuting, staggered start hours, off-peak commuting incentives carpooling, etc.
7. Invest in building and maintaining mass transit systems to connect as many communities as possible.
8. Invest in the national passenger and freight rail infrastructure
9. Revise building codes for maxiumum energy efficiency
10. Encourage walking, biking, line skating and all forms of self propelled transportation through clearly marked lanes and public awareness campaigns.
11. Encourage local food production, urban green gardens, farmer markets.
12. Generate as much local power as possible from solar, wind, biomass, hydro/tidal and other sustainable forms of energy

Vital Signs Fact of the Week

Planes Utilize Most Fuel During Takeoff

The world's airlines use some 205 million tons of aviation fuel (kerosene) each year, producing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and methane. Jet fuel is the second-largest expense to airlines after labor and can amount to 20 percent of companies' operating expenses.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in 1999 found that aircraft are responsible for 3.5 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Flight is one of the fastest-growing emission sources, and no technological fixes are in sight.

[LostinVA]

23. Agreed. I use the interstate to get to work

And drive 55 in the morning (little traffic), and 65 tops in the afternoon. EXCELLENT idea. I get great mpg doing that.

Accident numbers should be lower, too.

[leeroysphitz]

27. That's a great idea

And I fully support it. The repugs will never allow it and if they did people would be angry (certain people) but it's just what we need right now.