I was indeed a passenger during the "55" era, and it took a while to go 800 miles between parents -- especially in an '80 Caprice Classic coupe with the anemic 265-cid V-8 and no cruise control. $88 Braniff flights saved the day.
I've noticed a few things in this discussion -- the assumption that 55 is the target speed, and that efficiency decreases in Urban settings. What if we all went back to just 65 to start?
Just an observation -- I routinely drive in urban rush-hour slowdowns that force an average speed of 50mph. It isn't stop-n-go, but density increases. I get great FE during these periods due to slower speeds. Hills are harder to keep momentum, but entering/exiting traffic keep 2 of 3 lanes flowing smoothly.
Have others experienced this type of traffic flow?
RH77
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