Change Speed Limit?

[Doofus McFancypants]

i was watching the TV last night and saw one of those SWITCH YOUR CAR INSURANCE commercials. You know the ones - "Be one of the people who save on average $350 / year by switching to BlahBlah insurance company"
I also saw one where a car company was talking about the differance in the car price compared to a compeditors was equal to 2 years of Gas...

we need a "Community Service Add" in a simular light.

If the average Highway Speed is 75 mph - and the average car Cd is 0.5 - and the average miles per year is 15000. and gas is $4.00 per gallon - we should be able to do simular math.

The typical american drives 75 MPH on the highway.
Driving 65 MPH will, on average, save americans $$$ per year in fuel costs.
Driving 55 MPH will, on average, save americans $$$$ per year in fuel costs.

I do not think most people will understand %FE savings - we need to talk Dollars - that is the common variable that people get.

on another forum i made the point that for a 40 mile commute - lowering your speed from 80 MPH to 65 MPH cost you 6 minutes in time. but probably saved you several dollars in gas.

Just a thought.
Steve

[CobraBall]

Every time I hear someone mention a national 55 MPH speed limit, I think of that brilliant American leader Jimmy Carter. If only he had stayed in Georgia and grown peanuts...

[cfg83]

CobraBall -

Originally Posted by CobraBall

Every time I hear someone mention a national 55 MPH speed limit, I think of that brilliant American leader Jimmy Carter. If only he had stayed in Georgia and grown peanuts...

55 MPH was a Nixon thing :

National Maximum Speed Law - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The National Maximum Speed Law in the United States was a provision of the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act intended to reduce national crude oil consumption and was enacted as a specific response to the 1973 Oil Crisis. The law prohibited speed limits higher than 55 mph (90 km/h). In 1987 the law was modified to allow 65 mph (105 km/h) limits on certain roads and was repealed in 1995. Four years after the provision was repealed, crude oil prices began a rapid climb, rising in 9 years from $17 a barrel in 1999 to as high as $140 a barrel in 2008.

CarloSW2

[Clev]

65 seems to be the sweet spot for drivers and cars, if not for FE. However, most "economy" cars are geared to have a sweet spot around 55, to coincide with the EPA fuel economy testing.

Car and Driver did a trip across Montana about a decade ago, in a Camaro Z-28 (1994, I believe.) With the 6th speed, they did 100 mph almost non-stop across the state, and averaged about 26 mpg.

If car makers would add that 6th gear (or 5th gear on an auto) and gear it to get its best economy at 65-70 mph, I think it would make a big difference in the overall fleet highway economy. Similarly, the EPA highway economy driving cycle should be done between 65-67 mph, so automakers have that incentive.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Clev

Car and Driver did a trip across Montana about a decade ago, in a Camaro Z-28 (1994, I believe.) With the 6th speed, they did 100 mph almost non-stop across the state, and averaged about 26 mpg.

I am a witness to this. MY 96 Z28 got far better gas mileage at higher speeds. My record with that big LT1 was 31 mpg on the 294 leaving Chicago headed toward Indiana. I then took the 80/90 toll road into Indiana.

I do not have to tell anyone how I was driving that Z28 on 294 during one of the ever-so-rare times it was not tore up.

Oh, to be that young and dumb again. The Holy Blessed Mother of Acceleration was smiling on me. Now she has forgotten who I am.

[TELVM]

Originally Posted by Clev

Car and Driver did a trip across Montana about a decade ago, in a Camaro Z-28 (1994, I believe.) With the 6th speed, they did 100 mph almost non-stop across the state, and averaged about 26 mpg.

The fuel computer onboard my '91 Opel Calibra 2.0i 8V consistently displays 7.5 L/100 (31.4 mpg) at sustained speeds of 150 kmh (94 mph) on level ground, in 5th gear at 4260 rpm.

With a 6th gear and lower revs it could well do under 7.0 L/100 (over 33.6 mpg) at that speed.

[tjts1]

This poll is stupid. How about putting some more realistic options. Its not like everybody here wants to lower speed limits. Some of us want them raised or eliminated all together. Besides, what do want to punish toyota celica drivers?

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants

Driving 65 MPH will, on average, wastes americans time.
Driving 55 MPH will, on average, wastes americans even more time.

fixed

[DifferentPointofView]

Originally Posted by Doofus McFancypants
Driving 65 MPH will, on average, wastes americans time.
Driving 55 MPH will, on average, wastes americans even more time.

Uh, what time? americans time to sit down at home and watch tv while eating a mcdonalds cheeseburger? Maybe the valuable time they need to get that extra 5 minutes early to sit in the car and wait?

I choose save that extra 5 bucks than get those extra 5 minutes. waste of time? maybe if you think like a typical american. Waste of Valuable time? Probably not.

And If you love to drive, driving slower lets you enjoy driving longer. And I LOVE to drive

[SuperTrooper]

Those are impressive numbers for the Celica. I'd forgotten how handsome it was.

[99metro]

Around here, the speed limit signs are actually "minimum speed" signs. Generally speaking, in a 65 mph zone, 45 is the minimum - or at least the speed you need to have your hazards on. So, if "everyone else" is driving 15 over, and I am the only one driving 10-15 under, then am I eligible for a ticket (for not keeping up with the flow of traffic, impeding traffic, etc)? I thought speed limit was speed limit; you get a ticket for going over. How much over can you go before smokey gives you a citation?

Back on subject. I'm tossed on the 55 mph limit. Personally, I don't really care. But if I'm on the open highway, 55 is really SLOW! Try it sometime. 75 on the interstates might the speed limit on most, but if I don't want to drive 75, then that is my choice. Maybe these folks driving 80+ don't want to save gas. That is their choice. As a hypermiler, the lower the speed limit, the safer I will be in a rear end collision.

How much time is saved traveling 3000 miles at 75 versus 55? 40 hrs versus 54.54 hrs.
How much time is saved traveling 30 miles at 75 versus 55? 24 mins versus 32 mins.

In summary: I'd rather take 3 days to drive across the US, than taking 4 days.