With Gas Prices Rising and the Planet Warming, Is It Time To Drive 55 Again?

[Quicksilver]

Congress adopted a nationwide 55 mph speed limit law during the oil embargo of the 1970s and threatened to withhold highway funding for any state that didn't comply. It repealed the law 13 years ago, when oil was cheap and gas plentiful. But with prices going through the roof and everyone worried about global warming, there are increasing calls for Congress to bring back the double-nickel speed limit.

Advocacy groups like drive55.org say rolling the speed limit back to 55 will save fuel, reduce pollution and save lives. It seems logical, but not everyone is convinced slower speeds bring any real benefit, and the debate is heating up.

"Sheer physics tell you lower speeds equal better fuel economy, fewer injuries and lower emissions," said Justin McNaull, director of state relations for AAA. "But what happens when you change the speed limit is a little less clear."

It depends upon who you want to believe. So before you read the article, what do you believe???

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/05/with-gas-prices.html

[FSETH]

I agree with the statement that it will save fuel, but at a cost I am not willing to pay. Why not make it 45, hell 35 we would all be alot safer at 35 than 55 and even more fuel would be saved. The gov't needs to worry about how to fix the issue in general, not put a band-aid on it. We have oil reserves we could use or the gov't could mandate even stricter fuel econmy from manufacturers. Plenty of other things can and should be done before dropping the speed limit to 55.

I would really have a hard time with 55 on the highways here in the Atlanta area. I am in the real estate business and see different property every day. I do not have the option of moving close to work as my jobsite varies day-to-day. Therefore, I spend a considerable time on the highway.

[Wagner]

Agreed. Dumb.

So instead of you being to work in 30 minutes, you'll be there in 55. How did that save gas again?

[FSETH]

Quicksilver, I got so fired up just reading your post on what the article was about that I forgot to actually read the article until now.

I am not completely convinced that our cars are putting the biggest toll in the environment. The biggest contributor is big business and corporations. This is where the gov't really needs to step in. Cars have gotten so much better with regard to emmissions than the old days. Even though there are more cars on the road today, the pollution created by our cars today is less than it was years ago.

Also, say you drive slower during the hot summer months and run your air conditioning for 20 minutes longer than if you were allowed to drive faster. That has got to eat into some of that gas savings. It will definately take away from your free time and time with your family. Is the marginal savings really worth giving those things up? I bet the individual states will be all over this idea. Could you imagine how green it makes them look and how much more revenue it will create with the extra speeding tickets?

I would be more than happy keeping the speed limits as they are and just buying a more fuel efficient vehicle next time. Hey, that's it! Designated fast lanes for cars that average 30 mpg or better!

By the way, not 100% positive about this statistic, but doesn't the Autobahn have a better safety record than our 65 mph speed limit highways? I am pretty sure our entire driver's education system is in need of a huge overhaul. That surely would lower the number of accidents on our roads.

[E61Silver]

What we need is a 55 limit up hill and a 80 limit down hill.

Really think the speed limit in this country is crazy, no one does the limit except for some dumb ass in the fast lane.

I think that everyone should have the right to drive at safe speed (on the open road up to 80). How we choose to consume petrol should be up to individual. I know if I drove slow my mpg would go up but the cost differential is not that big and for me time is money.

[motordavid]

Why not make the max speed limit 50?!

Or, 45...max mpg usually comes around
45-50, it's tough to get killed at that speed,
the politicians and the NHSTA/Ins idiots will
all be gleeful, and it will help speed the econ's
erosion.

[cmyX6go]

One foot on the brake and one on the gas, hey!
Well, there's too much traffic, I can't pass, no!
So I tried my best illegal move
A big black and white come and crushed my groove again!

Go on & write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license n' all that jive
I can't drive É 55! Oh No! Uh!

So I signed my name on number 24, hey!
Yeah the judge said, "Boy, just one more
I'm gonna throw your ass in the city joint"
Looked me in the eye, said, "You get my point?"
I said "Yeah!, Oh yea!"

Write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive É 55!
Oh, yeah

When I drive that slow, you know it's hard to steer.
And I can't get my car out of second gear.
What used to take two hours now takes all day.
Huh - It took me 16 hours to get to L.A.!

Go on & write me up for 125
Post my face, wanted dead or alive
Take my license n' all that jive
I can't drive 55!

No, no, no, I can't drive...I can't drive 55!
I can't drive... I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!

[motordavid]

L, I figured you for the S. Hagar song tossed up here, ...
BR,mD

[cmyX6go]

My hell is a world without speed limits and a car that only does 55

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

My hell is a world without speed limits and a car that only does 55

L, Here's your ride in Hell...my Chevy Aveo, Fly Yellow rental,

I think I got it up to 75 downhill. Crank windows, too.
BR,mD

PS: Damn, you look fine in it, though!