National Speed Limit idea = waste of time and money
July 4th, 2008 by ClaudeTagged as: national speed limit.
Is this guy serious? Imposing any type of speed limit to “save American’s money on fuel costs” is just stupid. First, you can’t regulate what speed people travel at. Second, more fuel is expended slowing and accelerating in rush-hour gridlock, not traveling at 75 down I-80 through Nebraska.
This guy is trying to make a name for himself, and idiot or attempting to divert the issue of rising fuel prices by finding ways to put the onus on drivers.
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 has asked the Energy Department at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient.
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.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I’m enjoying going 55 mph. I set my cruize control a 55 and never have to touch it until I arrive. Cars whiz past and I have the right lane all to my self. Even U-Haul’s go faster. The truth is that studies show that 55 if the magic number. Over that number, wind resistance kicks in and reduces mileage. In the 70’s, during the first so-called oil shortage, the national 55 mph limit took the oil companies to their knees and it will again. Until then I’ll relax, set my cruize control, and keep getting 26.5 mpg instead of 19.
R. D. Brannan
Bainbridge Island, WA
July 4th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
The 55mph limit is crazy. You will have more Hwy Patrol out burning gas trying to catch speeders. Let’s put more commodities back on the railroad! Rail should be less expensive. Cities should set up better bus systems where those who live out in the burbs can park and ride into the metro area.
LA could take thousands of cars off the road with this system. Let the Washington D.C. area be an example for the rest of the country. I have lived there and used the system and it is very efficient.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
what a joke! all you have to do in order to see if speed limits work is to set your cruise on the posted speed limit. sit back and watch 4 wheelers whiz by doing 15 or more miles an hour over the speed limit. it doesn’t work at 70 and it definitely won’t work at 55!!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
The reduction of energy consumption AND fatalities is demonstrated.
It does not take much to enforce it….cruises don’t have to chase anyone.
Quickly people get the idea, the police are serious about enforcement!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Let’s be clear … we have all (including me) been stung badly by fuel costs and associated fallout. Badly. And are scared to death about the future. But this a-hole in congress represents only the other a-holes in congress. And they are all a-holes. All of them. He travels mostly on public funds, and has the unmitigated gall to tell us how to cope with the situation he and his associates (on both sides of the aisle) have created. Screw him.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
“It wo’nt work”. ‘Cause too many think they are entitled and priviledged to ‘do what I want, when I want to’. Then complain and blame everyone else for high gas prices. “Take the train, Bush did it to us, Cheney did it to us, everyone else should conserve but not me”. Of course this does’nt apply to YOU now does it? You will only learn some lessons when they are taught with a good dose of pain! Can you imagine what would happen if 90% of U.S. drivers would just reduce speed by 5 mph. ? Oh well, ZOOM-ZOOM America and shut up at the gas pump!
July 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
@Dudzikk
You have to be joking…if everyone drove to work at 50 MPH, that wouldn’t reduce the amount of gas everyone used.
Even more-so, it has NO BEARING on the price of gas. People are hacked off about the price of gas, not the effects of vehicles burning through the fuel itself.
Yes, I agree that most people want to blame the government for the current situation, but in this instance, time and resources are being wasted proposing a fruitless solution to a problem that is not connected to the speed limit.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
1. Law enforcement cannot handle it.
2. True facts, it saved little fuel and proved that speed does not kill.
3. If you want to do a service for your Country ; get the Government off thier collective butts and force alternative methods. Ethenol is not one of these alternatives.
4. Would someone explain to me why we alow our government to profit as individuals and the people pay price?
July 5th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Ethanol could be an answer (not the ONLY answer), but the government SHOULDN’T subsidize it.
If they make it, great, if they don’t, so be it.