[POLL] Drop national Speed Limit back to 55 MPH from 70 MPH to save Fuel?

[Ziptar]

Now that $3.00 gas prices have begun to materialize and, the nation is looking at a National Average Gas price of $4.00 a gallon, should the national Speed Limit on Interstates be dropped from 70 MPH to it's pre 1995 levels of 55 MPH.

The national speed limit of 55 mph was ordered in a bill signed by President Richard Nixon on Jan. 3, 1974. The new law didn't establish a national speed limit but denied federal highway funds to states that didn't adopt such a speed limit. Nixon estimated the speed limit would save the nation 200,000 barrels of fuel per day. That law was repealed in 1995 by President Clinton.

According to the EPA Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.

Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15-$0.51/gallon


*Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.20/gallon.

While it may not seem like much as an individual, if you multiply even the lowest figure they claim by millions of vehicles everyday the national total makes a dent in in national consumption.

With that in mind.

Should the national speed limit be Temporarily dropped to 55 MPH during the time of short supply and high prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to conserve fuel on a national scale.


BTW: EPA Says aggresive driving can be an even bigger fuel waster.

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.11-$0.73/gallon

 

[gigapet]

my car gets better mileagle at 80 than it does 55. so no.

 

[nakedfrog]

No. My car gets over it's EPA rated mileage when I'm driving 75-85mph over the course of a 500 mile trip.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: gigapet
my car gets better mileagle at 80 than it does 55. so no.

What car? Most people who claim that take the numbers from engine tests in a lab without air resistance.

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: gigapet
my car gets better mileagle at 80 than it does 55. so no.

What car? Most people who claim that take the numbers from engine tests in a lab without air resistance.

at 55 im in a lower gear with higher rpms at 80 im in a higher gear at lower rpms. Its not complicated.

 

[hypn0tik]

No. If you do you'll have about 98468423654 threads on ATOT complaining about slow traffic.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: gigapet
at 55 im in a lower gear with higher rpms at 80 im in a higher gear at lower rpms. Its not complicated.

As soon as you consider air resistance that gear/rpm argument is silly.

 

[franksta]

People don't obey the speed limit as it is. While the intentions are good, this will solve nothing.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I get the same gas milage at 85 than 65. Aerodynamically cars are alot better than they were back when the 55 limit was put into place. Engines are tuned much better as well. The reason I can get the same gas milage at two widely different speeds is that the engine is tuned to run best at around 2500RPM, which is approximately 80MPH with my gearing.

 

[Anubis]

the national speed limit is 65 BTW

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I get the same gas milage at 85 than 65. Aerodynamically cars are alot better than they were back when the 55 limit was put into place. Engines are tuned much better as well. The reason I can get the same gas milage at two widely different speeds is that the engine is tuned to run best at around 2500RPM, which is approximately 80MPH with my gearing.

Again someone not fully considering air resistance. RPM is only a minor factor at 75+ MPH.

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: gigapet
at 55 im in a lower gear with higher rpms at 80 im in a higher gear at lower rpms. Its not complicated.

As soon as you consider air resistance that gear/rpm argument is silly.

i have a gauge that tells me how many mpg i am getting. It is higher when going 55 than when im going 80. 80-85 seems tto be the optimal speed for my car as far as mpg gos.

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: Anubis
the national speed limit is 65 BTW

since when is there a national speed limit

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: gigapet

Originally posted by: Anubis
the national speed limit is 65 BTW

since when is there a national speed limit

well technicially there isnt, however the majority of states have it set to 65, there are a handfull thet set it at 70, but not many

 

[halik]

Nope, my car is geared well at 70

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: gigapet

Originally posted by: Anubis
the national speed limit is 65 BTW

since when is there a national speed limit

well technicially there isnt, however the majority of states have it set to 65, there are a handfull thet set it at 70, but not many

NY is 55

 

[Ziptar]

added a poll.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: gigapet

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: gigapet

Originally posted by: Anubis
the national speed limit is 65 BTW

since when is there a national speed limit

well technicially there isnt, however the majority of states have it set to 65, there are a handfull thet set it at 70, but not many

NY is 55

not where i live in NY

and i was refering to the highways

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: dullard

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I get the same gas milage at 85 than 65. Aerodynamically cars are alot better than they were back when the 55 limit was put into place. Engines are tuned much better as well. The reason I can get the same gas milage at two widely different speeds is that the engine is tuned to run best at around 2500RPM, which is approximately 80MPH with my gearing.

Again someone not fully considering air resistance. RPM is only a minor factor at 75+ MPH.

I'm considering factors OTHER than air resistance as well.

 

[dxkj]

Are you daft? Of course not. My car driven at 70-75mph gives me 30-34 mpg, EPA says 26...


The speed limit for me is 55 90% of my commute, but I drive 70....


170 mile drive @ 55 mph = 3 hours 5 mins or so
170 mile drive at 70 mph = less than 2.5 hours


thats per day..... add it up. 40 minutes a day * 21 days a month = 840 mins a month, thats 14 hrs a month.... I have precious little free time as it is, I will take my extra 14hrs a month at the 1 mpg difference.

 

[Amused]

Gawd no.

After this was done in the 70s, it took 2 decades to get it reversed because the nanny-staters stepped in and declared any speed over 55 deadly.

So not just no, but FSCK NO!

 

[miketheidiot]

i don't feel like turning my hour and a half drive home into a 2 and a quarter hour drive home. If you want to save some real fual, shut down fedex/ups and make them ship by rail.

 

[imported_Dimicron]

On my truck at 55MPH my engine's RPMs are just below 3K. At 75MPH it stays around 1.5K. Less work by the engine at 75MPH means better gas mileage. For comparison I drive an '03 Chevy S-10 V6 with the 3rd door. Mods done to it include a real dual exhaust system w/ headers installed, a K&N CAI system installed, Transmission fluid cooler and oil cooler (for when I need to do some towing, since I use my truck for both work and as a daily driver), and a hitch. Synthetic oil every 7-10K miles or so depending on how the oil filter looks when I get it replaced around every 4K miles.

 

[mugs]

They wouldn't need to change any speed limits, just enforce the existing ones to get people to drive 15 mph slower.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
I'm considering factors OTHER than air resistance as well.

Which is why my first question is "WHAT vehicle?" An aerodynamic sports car at 75 MPH is different than a Hummer 2 at 75 MPH. But so far, no one is willing to answer that simple question. They only argue the gear ratio. You could conceivably make a vehicle with the best theoretical performance at any reasonable speed. As soon as you put that engine in a real vehicle with air resistance, the optimal gas mileage is much different.