---> lame

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/...tml#cnnSTCText


WASHINGTON (AP) -- An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices.

Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.

Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.

As motorists headed on trips for this Fourth of July weekend, gasoline averaged $4.10 a gallon nationwide, with oil hovering around $145 a barrel.

Warner cited studies that showed the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption, while avoiding up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year.

"Given the significant increase in the number of vehicles on America's highway system from 1974 to 2008, one could assume that the amount of fuel that could be conserved today is far greater," Warner wrote Bodman.

Warner asked the department to determine at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient, how much fuel savings would be achieved, and whether it would be reasonable to assume there would be a reduction in prices at the pump if the speed limit were lowered.


Energy Department spokeswoman Angela Hill said the department will review Warner's letter but added, "If Congress is serious about addressing gasoline prices, they must take action on expanding domestic oil and natural gas production." The department's Web site says that fuel efficiency decreases rapidly when traveling faster than 60 mph. Every additional 5 mph over that threshold is estimated to cost motorists "essentially an additional 30 cents per gallon in fuel costs," Warner said in his letter, citing the DOE data.

 

that!! Nobody's going to go 55 anymore. It's not going to help either. The oil companies aren't bringing down the prices, they'll just make up some other excuse to keep them where they're at.

 

It worked so spectacularly well the last time.

 

They had some asshat of the news the other day, he was driving a Honda Insight on I95 in Maryland going 50 mph. He said he was doing it to save gas, a State Trooper gave him a ticket for doing 15 mph under the limit.

They also had someone in the report talking about how cars in the last ten years have been designed to get better mpg when going 65mph.

If this is the last thing Warner is known for, I'm going to have to bitch slap the old man. He is the Senior Senator of my State, I have voted for him four times.

 

If they lower the speed limit, I will drive faster to spite them.

 

Won't happen.

 

+1

 

So this is all your fault!

 

Thanks, jup.

 

fastest we get out here is 60 , and most freeways are 50-55. Although usually the freeways are so backed up anyways, no one goes past 5mph.

 

Fastest here in FL is around 75 MPH, and you can get away with 85. I find that driving at 75 gets me the best MPG for the time spent on the highways

 

Excellent!!!

Think of the increased revenues you'll be providing your state because you'll be going that much more over the speed limit. You'll be doing patriotic duty for the state.

Oh.....I'm sure your insurance company will appreciate the extra $$$ too.

 

They can lower it but it'll be hard for people to obey it, look at this hippie ass state, the speed limit is about 60-65 on every freeway, yet everyone drives 80+

With cops sitting on the freeway might I add.

 

From what I've read, 65 MPH seems to be the most efficient speed for most modern day cars. Since people tend to drive 5-10 MPH faster than the speed limit, setting the limit at 55 MPH would mean that people will end up driving between 60 and 65 MPH.... which is what we should be doing already. Could that be his plan?

 

It wouldn't really bother me. I am already doing 60 on the 65mph highways now because of gas. Even just the 5mph saves a considerable amount of gas, and I know even 5mph's more would help just that much more. I would drive that now, but I thinking any more than 5 UNDER the limit is dumb and dangerous.

 

you could sell your car to spite them.

 

Probably as fast as my car can go...

<~~~

 

Meh, still never been pulled over. I'll be helping the radar detector economy soon enough anyways as well

 

People go the speed limit on highways? Not around here..

 

I averaged 33mpg on my last drive down to S. Florida doing 70 mph (S/C'd CLS-6); however, it was painfully boring. On the way back, jacked it up to between 75-85mph and I averaged around 26mpg. Usually, 75mph gets me around 28-29 mpg. My 'arrest me red' SMR CL is like a magnet for the LEO's so one always has to be vigilant when venturing into higher mph's.

 

I don't see it passing house or senate.
In Ohio some of our 4 lane roads are also 65 mph. if they drop them and Interstates down to 55 mph like most highways it will make almost no difference in oil used by car drivers.
sorry house reps and senators but back to the drawing board guys and gals.

 

You can count on the oil industry to lobby FURIOUSLY against this cockamamie scheme.