Quote:
Originally Posted by 8307c4
Yes and just like in the late 70's / early 80's there is going to be MUCH ado about this until the government REGULATES the speed limit forcing ALL of us to do what they say like it or not.
55 saves gas, that's all there is to it.
However, this thread fails to take into account certain key issues:
- Every car is different, some might get as good mpg at say 58 mph...
My '88 T-bird used to get its best at 62-63.
And the gearing does make a difference too, most of today's cars are BUILT to race... It's not that you get better mpg at 70, it's that it feels RIGHT to do it because the gears in the transmission just make the car cruise like that.
But just because mine LIKES to do 80 and 90 doesn't mean I do it.
Because wind resistance at much over 60 is what kills it all.
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But what else will then be regulated? I've blogged extensively about the single minded, goal oriented, participatory behaviors that I think will be required to get us through the coming energy shortages with minimal (but certainly not zero) trauma. Think World War 2 and the types of rationing that people alive in that time voluntarily tolerated because they agreed with the goal.
But convincing people to participate, as difficult and unlikely as that is, is the only way to success. Once government (Democratic, Republican, liberal, conservative, local, regional, or national) gets the regulation "bit between their teeth," it won't stop with measures such as that. The irrational responses would be amazing. Witness the gas tax holiday, the "stop filling the strategic oil reserve" strategy, etc.
I don't know what it will take, but I don't think a nationwide 55 m.p.h. speed limit is a good start. It is, however, marginally higher than I set my cruise control.
That said, as mentioned in my previous post in this thread, my best mileage speed is something near 43 m.p.h.