Are YOU driving slower these days? (San Diego, Merced: income, dangerous, linear)

[streetscenes]

I spend a fair amount of time on the road for work and with gas over $4 a gallon I've been trying to slow down on the freeways to save on gas. I still can't drive 55 but I'm trying to get it down to between 60 and 65. It's amazing to look at the tachometer and see the difference in RPM at various speeds. From 70 to 65 my Honda Accord goes from around 2,300RPM to around 2,100RPM, that's 10% more effecient. I recently had to drive to San Diego from LA for work and I put the cruise on 64 whenever I could, probably saved a few bucks.

So my questions is... Are other people driving slower these days to save on gas? It seems to me that when I'm cruising in the number 2 or 3 lane there are more people driving slow. Maybe I just didn't notice these people when I used to say in the fast lane and go 70+.

[sonarrat]

Yes.. because I bought an old diesel Mercedes that takes 15 seconds to get to 60 mph.

[LASam]

Yes! I used to drive 75-80... and now I'm using cruise control to stay at 70. I've already seen my MPG go up by 2.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Yeah, I got stuck behind some idiot doing 50 in their Prius on the freeway. I wonder if good mileage is worth it when they get into a wreck. Other than that, I drive about as fast as I always have. I've never been a big speeder so I just go with the flow between 65 and 70 on most freeways.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by streetscenes

From 70 to 65 my Honda Accord goes from around 2,300RPM to around 2,100RPM, that's 10% more effecient.

It is more efficient (purely) because of a lower RPM? Not sure that makes sense.

More efficient at a lower speed because wind resistance is less. Wind resistance increases non-linearly with velocity.

Put it this way, driving at 70 instead of 55 is the equivalent of paying something like (I forgot the exact figure) an extra $0.60/gal for gas.

[Niners fan]

Originally Posted by Charles

It is more efficient (purely) because of a lower RPM? Not sure that makes sense.

More efficient at a lower speed because wind resistance is less. Wind resistance increases non-linearly with velocity.

Put it this way, driving at 70 instead of 55 is the equivalent of paying something like (I forgot the exact figure) an extra $0.60/gal of gas.

I had the same question.

I'm not driving any slower but I don't do much freeway driving. However I do find myself accelerating more slowly.

A friend of mine a few days ago was telling me that he has starting driving 55-60 mph to save gas.

[Sampaguita]

I'm trying to remember to do this as well (drive speed limit) in order to improve mpg. My friend who drives a newer Passat was getting about 25mpg at higher speeds. Since dropping to about 65-70mph, not idling while waiting at a Costco gas line and some other tips we've heard of before, she gets an extra 100 miles per tank/30-35mpg.

[DesertRich]

Yes I used to drive 70-75, now I spend my 1 hour drive drafting behind a trucker in the slow lane at 60 mph. Im currently getting 34 mpg in my ford ranger 4 cyl ( it's epa rated at 22 mpg).

[streetscenes]

Originally Posted by Charles

It is more efficient (purely) because of a lower RPM? Not sure that makes sense.

More efficient at a lower speed because wind resistance is less. Wind resistance increases non-linearly with velocity.

Put it this way, driving at 70 instead of 55 is the equivalent of paying something like (I forgot the exact figure) an extra $0.60/gal for gas.

The lower RPM is due to decreased wind resistence at lower speeds and engine not having to work so hard to overcome the wind. Basically were saying the same thing.

[Happy Cells]

YES!
Absolutely!
I'm driving much slower and I get two reactions from people.
Even though I'm now driving in the slow lane all the time, I get the most aggressive tailgater's I've ever seen! I've even had people pass me on the merge ramp or on the shoulder, going eighty even though there was plenty of room to pass on the left like they are supposed to do. I also use the cruise control much more often now. I set it at 60 or just under. It is really amazing though, to see dozens of huge gas hog cars sill driving like absolute maniacs, going 70 80 or more! They must have some HUGE source of money to continually fuel that hungry monster truck or impala with 20" wheels!
And the second reaction, is other people joining me for a 'gas saving / money maximizing' convoy in the slow lane. And not always high mileage vehicles either, but mostly vehicles of this type, hybrids pzev's etc. It's almost as if WE KNOW how hard it is to actually work to make a decent income, and what it means to pay 50 60 70$ to fill our cars gas tank.
While the crazy speeders, race-car types, those who tailgate, cut in and out and generally drive like freaks, almost seem to relish the fact that they burn huge amounts of fuel with their silly dangerous and more often than not ILLEGAL driving habits!

YES!

I've slowed WAY down and the needle stays on 'FULL' a little bit longer than before!