There might be hope speed limit

[Johnny Mullet]

I like 50 MPH better.

[Frank Lee]

Even in Cali traffic I go 55 or so. Haven't been shot at yet. :crossfingers:

[Bicycle Bob]

I've been driving at 90k (57 mph) since the Gulf war. If I was King, the speed limit would be whatever gets you 100 MPG per passenger, rising 3% per year up to 500 or so.
Sure, time is money, but what we spend today to gain a few minutes comes from the pockets of many coming generations.

[bgd73]

100 million barrels yearly saved for 21million barrels a DAY?

that is ridiculous.

In another thread here, speaking of the craziest non-aerodynamic vehicle. I spoke of the square 4x4 jacked up saving fuel with larger treads dropping rpms on a v8.

that is all engineering takes for some vehicles to maintain the same consumption with more ground covered (in example 55 to 65)... anybody get my point?

I even applied this to a subaru that came with 13 inch wheels, simply giving it 15 inch has me in the same consumption 5-7mph faster...and gets me off the highway quicker. Call that efficient in my book.

I look forward to 75mph, and midget thoughts getting squashed back to thier midget roads, further not preventing evolution of humanity and automobiles.

Seriously. There is rigs at 90mph loaded at 5mpg, the same as the 1981 cornbinder with less weight at 55mph...what is more efficeint? what best get out of the damn way?

[jamesqf]

I have to disagree. I only read a few of the comments, but the first one (at the time I read the article - I didn't notice what order they were in) had it dead right. The problem is not people driving 65 or 75 instead of 55, it's people driving humongous gas-guzzlers that'd still get under 20 mpg at 55 mph or less. (And often enough they're driving the guzzlers on city streets, so they're going much less than 55 anyway.) Meanwhile I'm out here driving (for the last 6 years) a car that gets over 70 mpg, and before that a Honda CRX that'd average over 40 mpg despite my not infrequently topping 90 mph.

What we need are not lower speed limits, but higher mpg standards: 75 mpg (or electric equivalent) at a steady 75 mph.

[99LeCouch]

It's nice having the option to go 65 mph to get around a slow truck on the interstate. I usually go about 58-60 mph since I can wring 33+ mpg out of my rolling couch at that speed since the engine hits its stride about that speed with the 2.86 gearing my car has.

[Lazarus]

Here's a very interesting thread about speed limit a while back. Worth looking at.

[tim3058]

I read at least one person state that they preferred going faster (even at a lower mpg/higher cost) so as to spend a few more minutes with their family (very understandable). In my humble opinion, we each have the -personal choice- of traveling at, above, or below the current speed limit. If I suggested that an extra couple mpg in my Civic is worth legislating another person to spend more time driving (in the case above, to and from his family), wouldn't it be a pretty self-centered attitude on my part? (family>>>mpg)
Also my Silverado gets 16-17mpg mostly independent of how I drive it, so a lower speed limit on it has a pretty minimal effect on fuel costs for the rest of society. I like the idea of allowing the individual driver to choose whats more valuable for their individual needs... mpg or less time on the road (why they upped the interstates to 65mph). If the other guy's going home to see his kids and is ok spending the extra dollars on gas to get there sooner wouldn't it be more considerate of me to just stay in the right lane at 62mph and let him pass me @ 72mph than slow him down to humor my pursuit of hypermiling?

[Frank Lee]

I think the ones that usually bleat about how important that extra minute with family is, are the same ones that opted to have 100 miles commutes

[luvit]

when jobs are more scarce than i ever experienced, i was blessed with a 'good' job 2.25hrs away (145mi).
some of us don't opt to take a jobs like that. we're obligated to our families and financial debts.
30 extra minutes a week is a lot. i squeeze-in a total of 48hrs of home time each weekend.