Speed Limit to 55?? - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 05.15.2008

Quote:

FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
Gasoline prices rose to a record today – for the 8th day in a row. The AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded is now $3.78. That’s a 12% increase in just the last month. $4 a gallon is clearly in sight now, and if some experts are right, it could go a lot higher.

Surveys show that drivers have been changing their habits in order to cut fuel costs. They’re doing things like shopping for cheaper gas or putting less in the tank instead of filling up. But how about slowing down?
Cars are most fuel efficient when driven between 30 mph and 60 mph. Above 65 mph, mileage drops sharply. This isn’t rocket science. If drivers are forced to slow down, we would all use less gasoline. And if demand went down, prices might just follow.

One expert says reducing highway speeds from 70 mph to 60 mph would reduce gasoline consumption between 2% and 3%. That could translate into a price reduction of as much as 10%. At today’s price, almost 38 cents a gallon.
This is exactly what happened in 1974 during the Middle East oil embargo. President Nixon and Congress imposed a national speed limit of 55 mph. Congress repealed the national speed limit law in 1995, and today there are 32 states with speed limits of 70 mph or higher. In Texas, you can even drive 80 mph on some roads.
More here.............http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/20...red-to-55-mph/

..................

bigredinternational · **^ Top** #2 05.15.2008

I'm not running for President. And I'm not a US Senator running for president. But if I was, I'd think a really good way to increase energy independence would be to give every American who wants one and has a credit rating good enough to pay for one a zero interest loan on a Honda Civic or Toyota Prius. That means all those American workers who build those cars would have lots of work to do and people who used to get 15 mph driving their Ford Explorer could get 35 to 40 driving their pretty little foreign car.

Then maybe Ford would wake up and make a vehicle that gets better than 33 mpg. My local Ford dealer has 3 cars out of 100 on his lot that get better than 28 mpg and it isn't because he sold the other 100. My wife and I each drive Escapes and it pisses me off to have to buy a Civic to get really good mileage.

Where is Ford's leadership??? Where is our country's leadership???

Ronnocomot · **^ Top** #3 05.15.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredinternational

I'm not running for President. And I'm not a US Senator running for president. But if I was, I'd think a really good way to increase energy independence would be to give every American who wants one and has a credit rating good enough to pay for one a zero interest loan on a Honda Civic or Toyota Prius. That means all those American workers who build those cars would have lots of work to do and people who used to get 15 mph driving their Ford Explorer could get 35 to 40 driving their pretty little foreign car.

Then maybe Ford would wake up and make a vehicle that gets better than 33 mpg. My local Ford dealer has 3 cars out of 100 on his lot that get better than 28 mpg and it isn't because he sold the other 100. My wife and I each drive Escapes and it pisses me off to have to buy a Civic to get really good mileage.

Where is Ford's leadership??? Where is our country's leadership???

Why would I spend 35k on a new car? ( especially a Ford )

I could buy a 3 or 4 year old SUV and drive it for a five years for the same price, gas included.

Brickman · **^ Top** #4 05.16.2008

I don't think the elected idiots in DC know what they would be in for if they dropped the national speed limit to 55. All these 4 wheel wonders that are used to doing 90+ on a daily basis are not going to take that much of a cut in speed quietly!

Phil1Fla · **^ Top** #5 05.16.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brickman

I don't think the elected idiots in DC know what they would be in for if they dropped the national speed limit to 55. All these 4 wheel wonders that are used to doing 90+ on a daily basis are not going to take that much of a cut in speed quietly!

Very true. I drive slower the the speed limit to save me money. When the money comes out of my pocket I have to make a profit. that is what I'm in business for.

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #6 05.16.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brickman

I don't think the elected idiots in DC know what they would be in for if they dropped the national speed limit to 55. All these 4 wheel wonders that are used to doing 90+ on a daily basis are not going to take that much of a cut in speed quietly!

It would be the same outcry that was made in the 70's. People had to change and adapt then as well.

KYSkipper · **^ Top** #7 05.16.2008

I've already slowed to 63 on the interstate in my Dodge diesel. At 70 mph my truck gets 18.5 mpg. At 63 I can get between 21 and 22 depending on the terrain. That's about 20% better or at 4.39/gallon for diesel 97 cents a gallon in savings. It's a no brainer. If Dodge had still offered a 3.55 axle in 2007, I believe a higher gear in the truck would have given 21 to 22 at 70.

Skip

Roadmedic · **^ Top** #8 05.16.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by KYSkipper

I've already slowed to 63 on the interstate in my Dodge diesel. At 70 mph my truck gets 18.5 mpg. At 63 I can get between 21 and 22 depending on the terrain. That's about 20% better or at 4.39/gallon for diesel 97 cents a gallon in savings. It's a no brainer. If Dodge had still offered a 3.55 axle in 2007, I believe a higher gear in the truck would have given 21 to 22 at 70.

Skip

Try it at 55 and see what you get.

drive55cat · **^ Top** #9 05.16.2008

We should fight back, peacefully but firmly.

danc694u · **^ Top** #10 05.16.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredinternational

...snipped....My wife and I each drive Escapes and it pisses me off to have to buy a Civic to get really good mileage.

Where is Ford's leadership??? Where is our country's leadership???

In answer to your question. We must first determine whether your Ford Escape has the new "award" winning engine from Ford They were handed (personally) an award from President Bush..in engine design. And, he spoke at length about the research monies invested..private and government. That we were finally seeing a return on.

Problem is the engine was designed and produced by Mitsubishi, and licensed to Ford, for use in the Escape.

So much for good ol American know how. Now, we just have to know how to rip the American customer off...for free Federal Grants.

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