Saving Gas!

[RufusEarl]

I was been reading different post here on DU about ways to save gas, and it got me to thinking of something we did back some years ago that worked then and should work again.

We dropped the speed limit here in Texas, by five MPH. And it saved allot of gas and it cut down on accidents as well,

I remember allot of folks didn't like the idea then, but gas wasn't 3 bucks a gal back then. So anyway it's an idea that has worked in the past, and i can't see why it want work again. Any input or different ideas would be appreciated.

[elehhhhna]

1. nah--just don't buy it if you don't need it lol

[katinmn]

14. Bush's energy policy is tied to his health care policy

Walk for good health!

[mdmc]

2. no!

the last thing that i want is a fuel efficient 30mph speed limit on the thruway!

[Warpy]

3. I hate that 65-75 speed limit on the interstates

I think it's made the highways much more dangerous, along with wasting a lot of gas. There is just no time to react at that speed when somebody else does something stupid.

If you're in that big a hurry, FLY.

I would dearly love to see it dropped back to 55-65, and yes, I live in the west.

[trogdor]

11. Well, if only people would actually drive 65...

...that would save plenty, believe me. The de facto speed limit on the NYS Thruway, for instance, is usually 75.

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. Well they were designed for 90

From what I have seen the bigger issue is driver education.

As for saving fuel. Aerodynamics, reducing the coefficient of drag will give the biggest improvement at highway speeds. Although changing to stiffer tires with smaller contact areas will also net significant gains.

Stiffening the tires will give less lateral acceleration making it more difficult to manuever to avoid accidents. As for aerodynamics aside from styling the principal obstacle are the condition of our road. To avoid bottoming out on pothole filled roads. The aerodynamics are sacrificed.

[Warpy]

24. The legal speed limit on the interstate between towns here is 75

which means all those yahoos in the easily flipped SUVs go 90.

If we push it back to 55-65, they'll only do 75---until they get caught.

[Bagsby]

4. People who want to drive slower can do it on their own

without yet another piece of government interference.

[Bagsby]

5. People who want to drive slower can do it on their own

without yet another piece of government interference.

[kestrel91316]

7. Have you tried to drive under 65 on a freeway lately??????

Here in SoCal it might get you shot.

[rkc3]

8. You can do it in places like Pittsburgh - I've been trying to keep it

under 60 for the past month. It's a little difficult tring not to get sucked into the wash of all other cars though.

Knowing my monthly gas costs equal my car payment keeps me in the slow lane.

[Bagsby]

9. Just stay in the right lane like the trucks do

I used to drive fast until I passed a truck going 75 mph and it damn near forced me off the road.

[kestrel91316]

17. If you drive under 75 in the far right lane with the trucks...............

You will have a truck driving on top of you within 3 minutes. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS to go slow in that lane. They think they own it, and they care nothing for speed limits.

[Sequoia]

12. Don't I know it!

We were going up the coast highway at 55 with our vacation camping gear and these drivers were honking and driving past with angry looks. I think the speed limit should be 55 and you fast drivers who think the government shouldn't impose it are the ones who cause all the accidents with your reckless zig zag driving and I hope you get a ticket.

[Bagsby]

18. Not me.

I choose not to drive fast.

[Sequoia]

22. Oh, so that wasn't you laying on the horn behind me then.

Never mind. (wink)

[0007]

19. I-10 Houston to New Orleans can find the hwy bumper to bumper

at times with speeds 90 mph.

[RufusEarl]

6. I noticed two responses, that were flat NO's.

Well if we don't do something as a country to conserve gasoline, and lowering the speed limit by five MPH is to much to ask because it's a drag and i can't drive 55 it takes to long or whatever. Then think how long it's going to take you to get to point A to point B, riding a damn horse.

[TheFarseer]

20. Great point

Repugs talk about "our lifestyle" of having a Suburban or a Yukon. Well, damnit I have never had an SUV and it sure as hell is not "my lifestyle" You won't notice that much difference if you drive a hybrid 5 mph slower compared to running out of oil and riding a farm animal to work.

[LiberalEsto]

10. There used to be a national 55 mph speed limit

to save gas, after the mid-197s oil crisis.

But heaven forbid the government should do anything now to cut into the oil CEOs fat salaries & stock options.

[nylab123]

16. Lower speed limits are overrated!!

Driving slower will not be that much safer as some of you like to believe. People have most accidents because they aren't paying attention, not using turn signals, poor judgement, or do not know how to handle and maneuver their vehicles!! They also drive inappropriate speeds in bad weather conditions. Common sense says if it's pouring rain, don't do 80 on the interstate. The govt can't do much to regulate that. That's just driver stupidity because they DO (or at least they should) know better.

[Coastie for Truth]

15. Push CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) Way The Heck Up

"Detroit's Engineers" (I did NOT say "Detroit's Executives" or "Detroit's Bean Counters" or "Detroit's MBA's" - I said "Detroit's Engineers") can meet that challenge.



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[Javaman]

21. We won't see change until morons* gone. nt

[NickB79]

23. Apparently DU'ers don't give a damn

I posted a thread a few days ago asking when the 55-mph federal speed limit will be reinstated, and the majority of the posts were basically "NEVER!", "OVER MY DEAD BODY!", etc.

A bunch of psuedoscience crap about "engines being designed to run more efficiently at 70 mph now", when the main source of fuel consumption at high speed is still drag, not engine efficiency.

Basically, a few minutes of someone's time is worth more than saving the environment or our economy. Here I expected more from DU'ers than that.

[RufusEarl]

26. Apparently you're correct Nick

I missed your post of a few days ago, but it sounds like you had a smiler response! It's amazing to me, and i find it strange that all theses DUer's would find a way to distort the need to find a solution to our gasoline problem.


It's a simple and tried solution that's doable and shows results. Simply driving slower works, and we don't have to protest anything!

I just heard from a friend he told me that CNN just reported that a barrel of oil just went over $75.00 and stations in NY City were out of gas.

It may not matter one way or another!

[kentuck]

25. Think more creatively...

Take one day off from work each week. Lay around and don't drive anywhere. That should save about 15 -20% of present consumption. Of course, employers may not like that and you may suffer warnings or worse, dismissal. Put in for vacation time one day per week for the next couple of months if you have it.