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I think I would much rather see americans face reality. A reality that says we are on a collision course with some real hardships in this country. I honestly would not be irritated if the speed was dropped to 55 or if it stays as it is now. I am more concerned that way to many americans and politicians are not taking the entire situation for what it is. A RED WARNING FLAG OF THE TIMES. The gas I am afraid is going to be well on its way to rival Europe and Japan approx $9.00 a gallon. I don't think that it will reach that level in 08 but I do believe sometime in 09 we will be at $6.00. Of course that price leads other commodities from food to utilities etc to raise prices. Its a serious matter and something has to done and promptly. I don't feel much of anything is being done. If they want to lower the speed to 55 and it is being enforced at that speed at least in metro areas, well thats ok with me. At least something would be done because nothing is being done right now as far as Im concerned. I don't just blame the politicians and city officials for that lack of accomplishment either, I blame much of the american population for this problem also.
Last edited by Jimrob1; 07-16-2008 at 09:33 PM..
Reason: spelling
A vehicle driving at 55 MPH uses less fuel per unit distance than a vehicle driving at 65 or 70 MPH. This is an indisputable fact of physics. A lower speed limit will reduce the demand for and increase the supply of oil, all else equal.
Elementary economic theory suggests that supply and demand are intimately related to price - one would reason that lower demand and increased supply will result a lower price. And I do think gas prices will drop if a lower speed limit is implemented...The degree of price drop is certainly debateable as the market for oil is far, far from a "free market" theory.
BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE WASTED TIME? my time is worth a lot TO ME many, many gallons of fuel!!!!many more than my car would save in wasting my time looking at the grass grow under my tires!
The gas I am afraid is going to be well on its way to rival Europe and Japan approx $9.00 a gallon.
Gas costs about $4 in Europe too, its just taxed an additional $5 there, while its taxed less than $1 here.
Quote:
At least something would be done because nothing is being done right now as far as Im concerned.
Small car sales are through the roof, large car and SUV sales are dead, and American oil consumption is down 10% since last year when gas was $3.50/gal. Thats with about a 50¢ difference to where the cost of gas is really effecting people. At $5, you will see even more dramatic drop in consumption.
A national highway speed limit has nothing to do with limiting consumption - remember the highest percentage of traffic is in cities and suburbia where speed limits are 35 mph.
A national highway speed limit has nothing to do with limiting consumption - remember the highest percentage of traffic is in cities and suburbia where speed limits are 35 mph.
Let the free market correct itself.
That addresses another problem. Most vehicles, with automatic transmissions, do not go into overdrive and torque converter lock up below 40 MPH. Wasting much more fuel than driving 65.
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68,329 posts, read 54,389,283 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drover
No, "Congress" is not considering a national 55mph speed limit. One irrelevant curmudgeon in Congress has proposed it and, properly so, will be thoroughly ignored.
Why do we have to keep flogging this same topic over and over again anyway?
Because the irrelevant curmudgeons in Congress far outnumber the thinkers.
The argument over value of time is interesting. If we think of a scenario; say gas in your town was typically $4, but one station in town was offering gas for $3.40. People would be lined up for miles waiting to fill up at this station (and I’ve seen people line up to save 3 cents per gallon, so there is no question people will line up in mass for 60 cents).
You could get the very same effect as paying $3.40 by buying the $4 gas somewhere else and slowing your vehicle down to 55 mph. Yet most people won’t even consider it – their time is too valuable.
So their time is too valuable to slow down 10 or 15 mph, but not valuable enough to wait in line to use a gas pump?
This is so dumb... people/company time is worth much more than a gallon of gas over a 1000 miles of driving. This is also un-Constitutional to a degree. Only ignorant fools or government people themselves support this.
This one really *#sses me off! Why not find a better way than infringing on my most valuable commodity-time. What do y'all think about this stupid idea?
you'll be surprised how little time you save by speeding!
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