55 Mph National Speed Limit?

[NYDisneyKid]

Yeah right,,,,Now for those who take 18 plus hrs to drive to WDW,,,think again,,,now it would be like 25 plus hrs. Who does 55 anyway? ºOº

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/should...09990001?icid=200100397x1205215427x1200241052

 

[delmar411]

I'd go for 80mph as the national speed limit. I love how people proposing this stuff are people who don't drive themselves anyplace. They should try driving around for a year or two and then they can make some suggestions.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Bring back the horse and buggy,,,hahaha, ºOº

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Let's NOT bring back this absurd speed limit. There is no gasoline shortage, there are just high prices. The only one who gains from such a speed limit are the cities and other jurisdictions that collect the traffic fines! And THAT's what it's really all about.

BobK/Orlando

 

[fla4fun]

Who does 55 anyway? ºOº

I do. I started reducing my speed when gas went above $2.50, and I've been driving 55 since it went above $3. It's enabled me to keep my weekly gasoline budget nearly the same as it always has been, under $20 per week for a 50 mile per day work commute. Don't knock 55 until you try it.

I don't know that I would agree that going back to a national speed limit of 55 would be the best thing, but I think 65 might be more reasonable. However, what I think needs to happen is the development of viable alternate energy sources. With all the sun here in Florida, it's a shame we don't have solar cars!

 

[mickey2000]

Years ago it worked and was the law!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

55 MPH,,,Fine and dandy for those of us who live right here to go to WDW ,,,But like I said,,,for those who use to take 18 plus hrs to get here,,,now will take more like 25 plus hrs to get here. ºOº

 

[metalis4ever]

I can not imagine commuting to work everyday nor driving across country with a 55 mph speed limit which means in most states you can get away with a 10% over without the fear of getting pulled over. If they were to mandate a natonal maximum they should also do so with a minimum. Right now the highway in which I travel on is 65 and that is perfect it would really upset the entire system to drop it down to 55 the staties wouldnt even be able to fit in their coffee breaks.

 

[Edd]

I drive 65 to 70 all day long, to the tune of approximately 300 gals of gas a month. I drive a Chevrolet Suburban 5.3 liter engine. My average MPG is 17 miles. If I drive stop and go city driving my MPG will drop to 12 - 13 miles. I would think these figures prove driving faster gives better mpg's. You can only drive faster on the highways where the higher speed limits are permitted.

 

[fhirleighinn]

First they need to start actually enforcing the 65 mph limit. I drive only 60 on the interstate and I get 20-25% better gas mileage than driving 65mph.
I made a 4 hour trip driving 60, and I would have no problem with such a speed limit.
IMHO anyone that drives 75 or faster on the interstate has no business complaining about gas prices...

 

[NancyIL]

It was 55 for many years - beginning in 1974.

 

[bab31]

I drive a highlander and try to go 60- I dont on the way to work because I know I am holding people up behind me then. I get better gas milage- I think if you want to drive 55 drive 55 - dont go changing laws for it- think of the waste and cost of new signs

 

[mickey2000]

There actually is truth behind the theory that driving 55 m.p.h will save you money on gasoline. According to fueleconomy.gov, although every car will reach maximum fuel economy at a different speed, the general rule of thumb is that gas mileage begins to drop quickly once you start going over 60 m.p.h. In fact, fuel economy can drop about 10% between going 55 m.p.h. and 65 m.p.h. That means that just by driving slower you can save yourself a lot of gas.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

My opinion is,,,,whos paying for the gas??? me or the government?? I believe it's the 1st. So I should be able to drive AND pay WHAT EVER the price of gas is. It's My (our's the people's) money and if we want and can afford to buy the gas then so be it. Now on the other hand,,,If Uncle Sam wants to put the gas in my tank, then by all means,,,,I'd be glad to drive 2 MPH,,,ºOº

 

[mickey2000]

My opinion is,,,,whos paying for the gas??? me or the government?? I believe it's the 1st. So I should be able to drive AND pay WHAT EVER the price of gas is. It's My (our's the people's) money and if we want and can afford to buy the gas then so be it. Now on the other hand,,,If Uncle Sam wants to put the gas in my tank, then by all means,,,,I'd be glad to drive 2 MPH,,,ºOº

Cost is not the point for driving at 55mph. Its saving fuel for other Americans to use

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Cost is not the point for driving at 55mph. Its saving fuel for other Americans to use

Something doesn't sound fair here. Is this America? Seems like someone (me) is giving up a "right". ºOº

 

[metalis4ever]

There actually is truth behind the theory that driving 55 m.p.h will save you money on gasoline. According to fueleconomy.gov, although every car will reach maximum fuel economy at a different speed, the general rule of thumb is that gas mileage begins to drop quickly once you start going over 60 m.p.h. In fact, fuel economy can drop about 10% between going 55 m.p.h. and 65 m.p.h. That means that just by driving slower you can save yourself a lot of gas.

While your point is half valid the reality is that as long as you keep a constant speed and rpm ratio you will coserve gas therefore in theory if one is driving 65 mph at 3 rpm one will consume the same amount of gas as going 55 mph at 3 rpm because it is the constant that determies feul cosumption. Having said that it is more than likely that one would consume more gas by reaching the 65 mph rather than 55 which is where you were correct.

The fact of the matter is conserving fuel isn't going to drive the prices down because oil is bought and sold on the world market price therefore what we do here in the US has little to no impact on that aspect of the global economy quite simply because we do not have the population numbers to offset that of CHina. Until China became more of a "Capitalist Society" only 20% of their population owned gas consuming vehicles whereas now the last figure I read was that the figure has risen to over 70% which doesnt sound like much but remember thats 70% of a Billion people which is huge thats almost double our entire population in the United State Alone. So we could drill and conserve all we wanted but until the Chinese government modifies their policies we are going to continue paying through the nose because as I had previously stated even our US oil companies sell the oil that they drill under US soil back to us at the World Market price and not at discount by any means.

 

[Edd]

The fact is the more oil that is put on the market the lower the cost per barrel the oil will drop to. Just look the price goes up when when a tanker sinks or some muslim terrorist blasts an oil line and it goes down when there is an oil glut. How the heck can anyone with any type of education not see that. Let's start drilling everywhere there is a possibility of oil. As far as I am concerned it is the best solution. Instead of saying it isn't let's go and drill and maybe prove it isn't the best solution. Remember talk is cheap, action gets results.

 

[metalis4ever]

The fact is the more oil that is put on the market the lower the cost per barrel the oil will drop to. Just look the price goes up when when a tanker sinks or some muslim terrorist blasts an oil line and it goes down when there is an oil glut. How the heck can anyone with any type of education not see that. Let's start drilling everywhere there is a possibility of oil. As far as I am concerned it is the best solution. Instead of saying it isn't let's go and drill and maybe prove it isn't the best solution. Remember talk is cheap, action gets results.

I agree that we should be drilling but the fact of the matter is as previously stated until China regulates their prices in order to lower demand in their own country there will not be a Global Decline of oil prices....Those other factors are infinitesimal compared to the increase in global demand caused by the miscalculation of the impact that a capitalist China would have on the global economy both positivley and negatively speaking of course.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My opinion is,,,,whos paying for the gas??? me or the government?? I believe it's the 1st. So I should be able to drive AND pay WHAT EVER the price of gas is. It's My (our's the people's) money and if we want and can afford to buy the gas then so be it. Now on the other hand,,,If Uncle Sam wants to put the gas in my tank, then by all means,,,,I'd be glad to drive 2 MPH,,,ºOº

Great. But then don't go complaining about the COST of gasoline.