55 mph...it's time has come.

I have a favor to ask: A lot of posts have made reference to mileage/fuel economy at different speeds and/or with cars of various vintage, effects on accident/death rates, road capacity at different speed limits, et cetera... Can anyone give me some citations, or copies of source material, that actually sets out this information in a factual/analytical/citable way? I would like to join the discussion, but I feel the need for data.... Thank you for indulging my compulsive tendencies. MartyB < resod25600@mypacks.net >

You can Google the ups and downs, pros and cons all over the net of 55 mph and get what ever you want for conclusions on it's efficacy. So much of the conclusions you can dRAW FOR safety is tainted by inclusion of airbags, head restraints and all the other mandated safety features in use now that MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO statistically conclude that 55 is safer....same with more efficient cars in general today vs yesterday.....and the beat goes on and we all argue out point of fews from our own preconceived ideas and look for "facts" that back us up.

Each country publishes accident and fatality rate per million miles or kilometers. The Germans are the most precise, since they are forever defending their "no speed limit" policy on the autobahns. ADAC is the German Auto club. AAA in the US has many statistics, as of course NHTSA.

The Dutch government (federal, small counry) has conclude that 140 km/hr (87 mph)is a reasonable speed on their expressways; it keeps drivers alert and makes maximum use of expensive roads.

Fuel mileage (consumption)is always measured against the value of TIME, by no matter who or where. As the automobile developed, we went from the first speeding ticket fo 8 mph to the present.

Don't tell them that, they will propose a national speed limit of 8 mph (only slightly more ridiculous than 55 mph).

That was about 1902, I believe when the first speeding ticket was handed out to a motorist. The speed limit in those days was determined by bicycles and trotting horses.

If you really want to see how well the 55 mph works, come to Chicago and take I-90 West. Through the western suburbs the posted speed limit is 55. If you attempt to travel at that speed (even in the right lane) you will be greeted by tailgaters, flashing brights, being cut off, and of course the finger. Most drivers are moving at speeds from 65 mph to 90 mph. Even the trucks are moving at 65 mph. Once you pass the Elgin area and the speed limit increases to 65 mph traffic actually slows down to about 70 mph. 55 didn't work, doesn't work, and won't work!

Or come over here to Maryland and try 65mph on I-295 between Washington, DC and the Delaware border.

Prevailing speed is 90MPH. No, I'm not kidding.

Personally, I thought the limit had been raised to 60 in most states. I think the 55 limit should be a thing of the past. 60 should be the new limit for two-lane highways and 70 should be the limit for interstates. It is 60 for two-lanes in Missouri. But quite honestly, does it make a lot of difference when we're paying $3.00 and more per gallon for gas? I keep reading about how the auto makers of the U.S. COULD be making more fuel-efficient cars. But if you go to the car web sites (Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, & Chrysler), what you'll see is just more SUB type vehicles and what few "fuel efficient" cars they do have are butt ugly. As I've posted before, I'd buy a Prius for the mileage alone, but the looks are nothing to brag about. Same can be said for the God-awful looking Civic. Even the non-hybrid Civic makes me ill. What's with our car companies? They complain about weak sales but then offer customers little in the way of incentives to buy? If they can't give us better mileage, then you'd think they could give us something to be wowed about. Looks like NEITHER are what they are offering.

They should take the lead from cell phones and other handheld electronics and start producing cars that have "skins". If you don't litle the way it works - pop off the shell and pop on a new one! That could create a whole new market for automobile accessories!

Let's try the typing thing again..

They should take the lead from cell phones and other handheld electronics and start producing cars that have "skins". If you don't litle the way it LOOKS - pop off the shell and pop on a new one! That could create a whole new market for automobile accessories!

Uh...get it repainted?

Besides, where would you store the unused skins?

Can't modify the shape with paint - only the color. Store the used skins in the landfill with everything else!!!

It depends what part of the country you are in; many of the western interstates have 75 mph limits (so most people drive 75-85), a lot of mid-west/southern states seem to have about 65 mph limits (so most people drive 75-85), most NY highways (except the NY thruway) have a 55 mph limit (so most people drive 75-85). Here in CO, a lot of two lane county roads have either 55 or 65 mph limits (which are usually more or less obeyed). The point is that people (on average) are usually going to travel at a speed that is appropriate for the type of road.

I agree that people have very little incentive to slow down with $3 gasoline, when it gets to $6 you may see some impact.

You know what - ultimately, it's gonna be $100 a tank gasoline which brings more fuel efficent vehicles to market.

It would be much safer for everyone if everyone drove THREE MPH. That's it, let's make the national speed limit 3 and just think of all of the gas and lives we'd save! Yeah, great idea.

Most people will drive the speed that they feel is reasonable for the road. Yes there will be a few amphetamine-crazed maniacs who will try to break the sound barrier, and there are a few bluehairs who will think that anything above 4 MPH will give them a heart attack. The biggest impact to gas mileage is the rate of accelleration, not speed. And the best ways to make the roads safe are (1) get rid of idiots and (2) have everyone drive at the same speed. Notice I did NOT say have everyone drive 55. If everyone is driving 70, and 70 is an appropriate speed for a normal driver, then everyone needs to drive 70. Case in point: I-75 through Atlanta....it's posted at 55 or 65 (depending on where you are), yet everyone drives 70+. And as long as you don't have some idiot trying to do 90, or weaving like a sine curve, or yakking on their cell phone while trying to prove the Big Bang theory while eating a Big Mac and reading the newspaper, then it will be safe.

I still remember a speed study done in the mid-1990's for I-285 around Atlanta: one part had an average speed of 92 MPH. That's one reason why I no longer live in Atlanta.......

Seriously now, what the heck are you talking about? If you're soo worried about the gas mileage you're getting because you're doing 75 and not 55, get off the freeway and take slower speed limit roads. I am a college student that has a very low income, but I still drive anywhere between 65 and 100 on a daily basis, while cruising on the freeway (and I'm driving a 2002 Chevrolet Prism, which is a twin of the the Toyota Corolla of the same year, minus the interior). But, there is no need to get the Government more involved in my personal life, especially when it comes to driving! Heck, they can't handle the taxation system with a agency as big as the IRS (with soo much power), so what makes you think they're gonna do any better with a speed limit? People are going to go as fast as they want to regardless what you post the speed limit! Just take that into consideration! Lastly, think of it like Marijuana! It's illegal Nationwide and we all know nobody has it, right? Point stated and by the way, the Focus, my first car I ever owned, did just fine at much higher speeds! What kinda car have you been driving, gramps?

Speeding between 65 and 100 on a daily basis...spoken like a true immortal. Had a 2002 Chevy Prism and though capable of near 100 mph, not that safe and a threat to everyone else on the road. If you had a Vette, you'd have an arguement.

Let's see, 55 mph is 10 under the 65 mph speed limit and 100 is 35 over....big brother should get involved in your personal life, in big way. You could get involved in a very personal way in everyone elses who is obeying the speed limit trying to get home to their family.

You have to be joking......sonny.

Drive 55 Conservation Project Action Plan (http://www.Drive55.org)

There are three levels of activity contemplated.

Level One is Voluntary modification of driving behavior via a public relations campaign anchored by a recognizable design on bumper stickers for motor vehicles. The stickers serve to make the driver more conscientious while informing other drivers that the vehicle is observing the 55 MPH speed limit.

Supported by a multi media campaign with messaging geared toward benefits of slowing down, the bumper stickers will create community and encourage other drivers to join the trend. Project experience has revealed that it can actually be unnerving and unsafe to drive 55 mph if others are doing 85, therefore safety will be improved by having a way to notify speeders of the drivers intention.

Level Two is Direct Regulation, first legislatively and then by law enforcement. Political will on the part of the legislature, especially by a few key leaders, is required to write new law. CHP must be provided sufficient resources if mandated to step up enforcement, however structured carefully, CHP activities will pay for themselves.

Level Three effort would combine Market Based Compliance with Direct Regulation by including taxing vehicles by horsepower vs. weight and seatbelts, carbon tax on fuels, and pollution tax on wear items such as tires and brakes.

We seek to try the easiest and lowest cost Level One effort first and propose a $1 million dollar budget to roll out an initial campaign. The budget would provide 10% for management, 40% for bumper stickers printing & distribution, and 30% for a multi media ad campaign with a 20% contingency fund.

To measure the effectiveness of the campaign will require a separate statistical analysis of historical data. Since it is a purely voluntary program it would be very difficult to quantify and is therefore outside the scope of a Level One effort. Levels Two and Three would provide useful data that could be analyzed to quantify benefits but also require more extensive planning that will be better accomplished after a level one effort has been implemented.
Cost Effectiveness Calculation and Assumptions

To calculate the cost effectiveness of the Voluntary campaign one simple approach would be to budget $1 million each year until 2020 for the campaign for a total project cost of $12 million.

Using the 2004 baseline Road Transportation Emissions figure of 166.747 MMT CO2E and data from the EPA memo (attached) annual reductions could be as high as 20.7%, and even if the reduction turns out to be only 1% that would still be an impressive 1.7 MMT per year for a total reduction of 20.4 MMT by 2020. $12 million divided by 20 MMT works out to about $600,000 per MMT.

Socialist drivel , how fast you drive should be a personal choice (within reason of course, Most everyone would agree that barreling down the road at 115 MPH in a blizzard is unsafe). But what about the emissions? Today's cars are essentially non-polluting; the exhaust of some of the really clean cars (PZEV) is cleaner than the air going into the engine. But what about the rising cost of oil? What you drive is a personal choice; nobody should tell you what you can and can't drive. Road conditions permitting I routinely drive 85 - 90 MPH on the highway. My time is more valuable than saving a few bucks on gas.

Prove it yourself! Attached is a free download you can print out and use to record your savings. Thanks for participating!