For the statistically inclined, following is June - July data that may be useful.
A July 2008 Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that an
equal number of people support offshore drilling as those that oppose a
national 55 MPH speed limit, 59%.
The report also notes Seniors (50%), Democrats (43%) and women (42%)
would like to see the lower speed limit while young voters (under 30)
reject the idea by a wide margin of 76%
When asked "What is more important, reducing the price of gas and oil
or protecting the environment?" 46% of those surveyed said reducing the
price of gas and oil, 38% said protecting the environment and 15% were
not sure.
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Shown in the table below are some electric cars currently available for under
$35,000. Note the average top speed is 45 MPH. A 55 MPH speed limit would help usher in a new age of electric cars much sooner than waiting for speedsters that will do 120 MPH - what use is that anyway? People need useful cars for trips around 20-40 miles to carry passengers and small loads like groceries. A top speed of 55 MPH for all vehicles will allow smaller, more efficient vehicles to share the public road.
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Upon news of national speed limit bills introduced by members of both parties in congress, in both the Senate and House, combined with the fact that American drivers have reduced consumption by over 3% in recent weeks, it is little surprise that speculators are starting to retreat and prices are falling.
Of particular interest is the mild panic this development caused in congress as members realized the corresponding reduction in tax revenue . The congressional spending binge requires ever increasing revenues, never decreasing. This is one source of resistance to our proposals.
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In response to the following email we are pleased to announce several new bumper stickers you can ORDER HERE.
 Drive 55 Conservation Project bumperstickers
Dear Folks,
Last week I sent this letter out to a number of conservation organizations, and also to Yes! magazine. They asked me for a reference and I couldn't find it, so I googled "55 speed limit mideast oil" and BINGO! "You've been doing this for a while. Why hasn't it caught on?" I suggest a new bumpersticker :
55 FOR PEACE
55 FOR POLAR BEARS
55 TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING, etc.
Text of my earlier letter:
Here’s an action almost everyone can do immediately that will reduce global warming. DRIVE SLOWER.
I read in a recent Sierra Club magazine that if the whole country went back to the 55mph speed limit (as we did in the first oil crisis back in the 70s) it would save the amount of oil we import from the Persian Gulf. We don't have to wait for the Government, we can drive 55 right now. How about some sort of campaign: Drive 55, keep the earth alive! or 55 for polar bears! 55 for peace! People could display a bumper sticker, so we'd know who we are as we drive down the highway.
I'm already doing it. I’ve been doing it for 3 years, since I bought my Honda Hybrid. It has a clever LED readout of my average mileage, so I tested it on the highway, and at 55mph my car gets 55mpg. At 60 it drops to about 52, at 65 it’s down to about 47. It’s true, it does require some sacrifice. It takes longer to get places. But you know what? It doesn’t take that much longer. Every time the needle creeps up to 60 I remember polar bears and slow down. It makes me feel good.
A lot of different groups could suggest their members do this: environmental groups, peace groups - almost every problem we are struggling with could be helped by slowing down.
Thanks,
Jenny Deupree
in Franconia, NH
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Thank you Jenny, and also all the others who have sent email and encouragement. This new website is for you. Our goal: One Million Drive 55 bumperstickers!
Tim
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A recent report says the average car payment has jumped to $514(1) per month, or $6,168 per year, much of which is interest, on a rapidly depreciating asset.
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In response to the California Air Resources Board solicitation for ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, October 1, 2007 the Drive 55 Conservation Project submitted these three pdf files offering our ideas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The files are named as follows:
Sept_2007_reduce_GHG.pdf (application/pdf) 88kb
Drive 55 Conservation Project Action Plan.pdf (application/pdf) 121kb
Emissions Impact of Elimination of the National 55 mph Speed Limit.pdf (application/pdf) 101kb
View all the submissions here.
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Here is the plan to spread our message, promote and fund the project: we need YOU to take the lead in your community and do these things:
- Add a marker to the map on this site when you register, login and click on the "Add Map Marker" link in the User Menu that replaces the login box.
- Tell Congress to Support the Drive 55 Conservation Project
- Buy bumperstickers here Keep some for your own vehicles and give away (or sell) the rest. The money you save will quickly cover this low cost practical solution. Download Free Designs here
- Putting stickers on your own vehicles will help alter your driving habits, who wants to be a hypocrite, right?
- Stickers on your vehicles will help spread the message to other drivers while putting speeders on notice of your intention.
- Proceeds from sales go to support the project so even if you don't get 10 or more, every little bit helps!
Act Now! Visit www.CafePress.com/peacetrain to place your order.
Tim Castleman
Drive 55 Conservation Project
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