Would you drive no faster than 55mph to help global warming?

[caty]

Since there is proof that driving slower saves on gasoline, why haven't our speed limits been reduced?

"For every mile per hour faster than 55 mph, fuel economy drops by about 1 percent, the drop-off increases at a greater rate after 65 mph. The faster you go, the faster the fuel goes."
http://acrosstheboard.blogspot.com/2005/10/driving-55-mph-does-save-gas-mileage.html

Would you be willing to slow down to help global warming and also save money on the gas you use--- and also cut down the loss of life in car accidents by 15%?

On edit: Of course I meant would you drive no faster than 55mph.

[datasuspect]

1. i can't drive 55

i don't even own a car, but when i do drive, it is hammer lane all the way.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Driving 55 isn't much help - driving 85: that helps! Even better is 120.

As to your second question, yes, I would be willing to slow down to help reduce global warming. It would bug the living shit out of me - I hated the time when we were forced to 55 - but I'd do it.

[Little Wing]

3. That's close to how I drive already

I used to be a speed demon, but now it's not important. I'm never in that much of a damn rush anyway.

[taterguy]

4. I don't think I could

So far 30 mph is about as fast as I can go on this. Maybe I need to be in better shape.

[Maddy McCall]

5. I don't think I can.

I just don't think that I'm physically capable of doing that.

[Deep13]

6. Sure, why not?

Seems an easy step. Might be hard to do in school zones and parking lots, though.

[SacredCow]

7. 55 mph isn't always the sweet spot of fuel consumption....

I've owned several cars over the past 10 years, and they all had different zones of maximum fuel economy.

[mainegreen]

8. Bah, I barely break 35 all day.

[BOSSHOG]

9. Okay serious math question here (gas mileage)

If you average 55 mph for five hours you'd go 275 miles. Your trip is 50 miles more or 325 miles. If you averaged 65 mph you'd be at your destination one hour quicker and you car would be parked and not consuming gas for that extra hour. So which mph is the best relative to gas consumption?

[PVnRT]

11. There is no one answer

The answer is that each car's peak efficiency is going to vary not only by make and model, but by how well the engine is maintained, the tire pressure, use of cruise control, how full the gas tank is, etc.

The best thing to do is drive 55 mph, fill up your gas tank and compute your mileage, then drive 60, 65, etc. and compare how good the mileage is.

One thing everyone should do is make sure that your tires are inflated properly (35 psi generally works best, but check your manual) and not let your gas tank get below about 1/4 full.

[doc03]

10. If I drove 55 MPH you would find my

car squashed on the front of a semi like a bug and the speed for semi's in Ohio is 55 MPH.

[caty]

12. I'm really surprised

to hear that. Here in Michigan, Ohio has the reputation of being one huge speed trap. Does your state police only pull over out of state cars?

[doc03]

14. People from Michigan should stay

out of our state, you get what you deserve. Just kidding. The truckers know when they can speed and when Smokey is out. I am lucky I live in a rural area, but I go to Columbus to the doctor several times a year. The last time there I wondered just how fast the traffic was going on I-70 in Columbus the cars were passing me like I was parked. I picked up speed to keep up with the traffic flow and was going 83 MPH. The part that puzzles me is I always see the Cops with someone pulled over, I just wonder what speed you have to go to get stopped. I would guess it must be in the neighborhood of 85 MPH.

[Crazy Dave]

13. Not driving helps the most but....

,,,at least in my city they have a pathetic public transportation system. I hate driving and would love to ride the bus or whatever if the system was better managed and improved.

[Deja Q]

15. Those were reasons why Nixon established the 55MPH speed limit...

Sad the damn thing was rescinded in the 1990s, but most (myself not excluded) thought there were adequate reasons for the time.

[seemunkee]

16. Isn't transmission gearing a big variable

I can't do 55 in 6th gear, on a moderate incline I can't even do it in 5th.

[YankeyMCC]

17. My Prius has changed my driving habbits

I've known for a long time that keeping to the speed limit is the most fuel efficent course but I still tended to have a bit of a led foot. But the built in fuel efficiency monitor in the Prius finally drove it home through my thick skull and I drive not just my Prius but my other car as well much more effectively.

Keep around 55, don't continually accelerate, only give gas when necessary.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Way ahead of you. Why do you think us old people drive so slow?

Because we can't drive fast? Hell no.

It's because it saves gas, and it looks cool.

[Redstone]

19. Not in front of me, I hope. Especially not in the left lane.

Redstone

[Hangingon]

20. no

[SeattleGirl]

21. Drive 55 in Seattle, and you'll get run over

unless it's "rush" hour, and then you're lucky if you can go 5 mph.

[BlueJazz]

22. No

[cobalt1999]

23. No. How about not driving more than 25mph?

We could all be driving one of these...


You'd save more lives than at 55mph, you'd save tons more gas.

I'd doubt many people would do it, I know I wouldn't. Same logic though.