Email we get
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Monday, 19 April 2010 |
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Just checking in again, it's been about a year since I started driving
55 on my 2009 Toyota Corolla. I'm still getting about 40 MPH combined
on an EPA Hwy estimate of 30 MPH. An extra benefit that hadn't occurred
to me until I took the car for it's 30K maintenance is the reduced wear
and tear. My brakes were still in great shape probably because I
seldom have a need them while I'm on the highway. I'm sure other parts
of the car are benefiting from the lower stress driving.
As for tailgaters, I drive on the far right lane at times when traffic
is light. If they can't figure a way around me with two open lanes to
the left, I guess I can help them save some gas.
Tin Cheung
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Saturday, 06 February 2010 |
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In 1975, annual traffic fatalities dropped by 9100 when the
nation was saddled with a national speed limit of 55 mph. 9100 deaths prevented – in one
year! Let’s put this in
context. 9100 is more than twice
the number killed by earthquakes and tsunamis in all recorded U.S history. (http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/us_deaths.php)
Undoubtedly, millions of gallons of gas were saved (I’m
tracking down the actual estimate, but trust me – it’s big). But as soon as it could, America
shrugged off this onerous restriction in favor of the old higher speed
limits.
Why?
In the face of such common sense benefits, why would states
and localities return to more dangerous and expensive practices? They are always reaching into our
personal lives to regulate everything they can, so why would they be so eager
to give us back our right to rush breakneck around the highways, wasting gas
and killing each other with our cars?
There is a time-honored adage in America that pertains to
solving such riddles:
Follow The Money.
Who profits from America’s love affair with highway
speed? The lion’s share of the
money we waste driving 70-75 on our freeways goes straight to Exxon-Mobil,
ARCO, Unocal, Conoco-Philips, and the rest of America’s huge oil/gasoline
industry.
How much money?
Some very
conservative math (see my posting titled “Some Simple Math, Part 2”) suggests
that if only 1% of American drivers agreed to DRIVE THE LIMITS for one year,
we’d save about 140,000,000 gallons of gas. At a gas price of $2.80 per gallon, that’s
$392,000,000. At $3, it’s
$420,000,000. A savings of
half-a-billion dollars is not at all out of reach. With higher participation and higher gas prices, we could
easily save a multiple of that.
Maybe a BIG multiple.
So consider how much profit Big Oil lost when an entire
nation was forced to drive 55.
Tens of billions of dollars, easy.
Maybe hundreds.
Does this begin to explain why old speed limits were
restored, when the benefits of the newer, slower ones were obvious to any
thinking person?
Change Your Driving Habits. Change The World.
Thanks,
Rick Okie
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Friday, 02 October 2009 |
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Kansas City Missouri to McAlester Oklahoma the end of September. Mercury Monterey minivan. epa mileage says 17mpg city/23mpg highway. Filled tank in Kansas City. reset trip odometer & gps. set cruise at 55mph for entire trip. Filled up in McAlester upon arrival. 330 miles. 10 gallons put in. 33mpg!! On return trip back to Kansas City I did the exact same thing. Had a slight tail wind this time but kept cruise set at 55. 330 miles traveled, refilled again upon return, only used 9 gallons. 36mpg!!
Roger Napue
Kansas City, MO
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Wednesday, 12 August 2009 |
 I just purchased my 2009 Chevy HHR a few weeks ago. I am currently on the vehicles first highway trip. As is normal, I've been keeping to my 55 mph rule. This vehicle is proving to be a stunning performer for fuel mileage. This vehicle has the 2.2L flex fuel capable four cylinder engine and 5 speed manual transmission. My initial stretch between my home and Amarillo, TX., netted 38.3 mpg by the car's computer. When double checking the computer with a calculator, the calculator showed 39.1 mpg! This is not to be outdone. As I pulled into the driveway of my folks house in the car's computer was posting 40.4 mpg. If the computer is being consistent, and has posted a figure .8 mpg lower than calculated, this will result in a figure of 41.2 for the stretch. This is all uphill from the Texas area. I have included a picture of the computer with the car in the driveway.
Bryan Foust
Ed note: EPA MPGfor this vehicle is: 22 City / 32 Hwy
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Friday, 31 July 2009 |
I'm glad to see this website and to see a small group of politicians supporting reduced speed limits.
I drive a reverse commute, I live in the city and work in the suburbs. About 2 months ago I started taking the "scenic" route to and from work. Instead of the interstate I take the side streets and country roads where the top speeds range from 40 to 55. I mainly made the change because it's a prettier more relaxing drive.
The trip takes on average only 10 minutes longer but the difference in fuel economy was amazing even when I knew it would make a difference. My Millenium Bug (2000 Beetle) went from averaging 30MPG to averaging 35MPG. My '02 MR2 went from 35MPG to almost 40MPG and my '04 BMW R1150R is getting 59MPG. And a third of the trip has stoplights!
It has never ceased to amaze me how many people seriously believe speed does not affect gas mileage.
The explanation I always use is this. Stick your hand out the window at 55MPH and then at 75MPH. Compare how much harder it is to hold it straight in the wind. That's how much harder the engine in your car is having to work.
I fully support a return to a national 55MPH speed limit. We've become a nation in a perpetual hurry. Slowing down a little, not just on the freeways will do us a lot of good.
Jim Whittaker
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Saturday, 20 June 2009 |
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I don't have an exact speed because this included all city and highway
driving. I followed the basic rules, don't exceed the speed limit but
I did on occasion exceed 55 if I determined that safety may be an issue.
I made a tracking form in Excel, but since I couldn't attach it, here is the data in text form.
5/9/2009 5/16/2009 5/23/2009 5/28/2009 6/4/2009
Miles 397 412.6 408.7 405.5 440.1 2063.9
Fuel/Gal. 10.09 10.11 9.844 9.893 10.413 50.35
MPG 39.3 40.8 41.5 41.0 42.3 41.0
Cost $23.61 $24.66 $25.58 $26.11 $28.10 $128.06
Price/Gal. $2.34 $2.44 $2.60 $2.64 $2.70 $2.54
Base MPG 33 33 33 33 33 33
Base Fuel 12.03 12.50 12.38 12.29 13.34 62.54
Base Cost $28.15 $30.50 $32.18 $32.43 $35.99 $159.07
Savings $4.54 $5.84 $6.60 $6.32 $7.89 $31.01
% Cost Reduction 16% 19% 21% 19% 22% 19%
Tin Cheung, TX
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Friday, 29 May 2009 |
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Dr. Chu:
In synch with the new vehicle fuel efficiency
standards, I strongly recommend that a national maximum speed limit of about 60
mph be implemented ASAP for ALL vehicles. Such a limit would yield
IMMEDIATE benefits with EXISTING vehicles including:
- Greater fuel efficiency
- Reduced emissions
- Improved highway safety.
Future vehicle technologies and designs would be
more easily facilitated, simplified and cost reduced because top speeds
affect power sources, gearing, brakes, tires, crash protection features,
etc.
Automobiles are most fuel-efficient between 45 and
60 mph. Large trucks lose fuel efficiency over 50 mph.
However, 70 mph is the typical maximum auto speed limit (with parts of
Texas and Utah having 80 mph).
Congress is unlikely to initiate and pass the
needed, common sense legislation in a timely manner. A 60 / 65 mph bill proposed about a year ago by Representative
Jackie Speier, et al died in committee when the last Congress closed. With
other countries hoping for increased U.S. leadership on climate change and
sustainability, non-elected officials with technical backgrounds (like yourself
and NASA's Dr. James E. Hansen) must take a strong initiative based on
scientific realities!
Donald H. Albertson (retired industrial
engineer)
Contact the Energy Secretary:
| By E-mail: |
You can send an email to the Secretary of Energy
at The.Secretary@hq.doe.gov |
| By Phone: |
1-800-dial-DOE (1-800-342-5363)
1-202-586-5000 (Main Switchboard)
National Phone Directory
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| By Fax: |
202-586-4403 |
| *By Mail: |
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585 |
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Monday, 02 March 2009 |
38 mpg on my first tank of gas for my 2009 Honda Civic 4 door LX model, 1.8L engine with automatic transmission. 375 miles @ 9.848 gallons. Mostly highway at 55mph.
Kate H.
Baton Rouge, LA
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Friday, 02 January 2009 |
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The trip to Honesdale from Ossining is estimated by Google maps to be 108 miles and about 2½ hours in duration. I took this trip with my wife this summer to attend a wedding, and it took us about 30-40 minutes longer than the google estimate. The reason being that I tried to travel at least five miles below the speed limit on every road and travel at 45 mph on I-287 and I-84. Let me assure you from the start, the idea of traveling at 45 mph on the interstate did not work. Even at 55 (the new upper limit I set on the trip) it felt scary when semis, at their 75-80 mph speed and tens of thousands of pounds of mass, bore down on our little Toyota Corolla.
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