I guess the statistics about people driving less that were reported (I believe it was by AAA) were made up then? City traffic may not be dropping, but people were definitely not taking as many trips this year. I know I haven't been driving as much since gas prices started climbing so high. I don't plan on changing my habits now that they have dropped either.

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Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

I am not saying that. I live in a rural area. It is 16 miles to the town with the stores. I have not seen a decline in the traffic going to town for trips.

Will it make a difference in another area they polled. Yes, maybe people are going to make different plans.

In the big truck, the traffic on the highways is just as much in May as it is now. I have not noticed a real decline, but then again, I am not counting the cars.

Lilbit, half of the oil used in the US is for manufacturing. In China and India, it more like 80% goes to manufacturing. Global demand for oil is low because consumer spending is down, thus manufacturing is down as well. In the states we consume approx 10 million barrels of fuel per day for transportation. Slowing down traffic to 55 would cut that 10m barrels by a solid 3%. 3% by itself will not lower the demand enough to really see much difference at the pump, but if you combine that 3% with another 3% from producing more fuel effiecient vehicles, with another .5% in idle reduction, with another 1% from better traffic managment, etc. it starts adding up and then you will see a reduction at the pump that is not related towards the decline of the global economy. What we don't want to do now is get complacent. I have a feeling that consumer spending will increase because energy cost are down, which will in turn help the economy and bring back up manufacturing, which then in turn will put the demand back for oil, and then the price of oil will go back up, then consumer spending goes back down, then economy again, and the cycle will continue until something breaks the cycle. If we continue to be responsible and find ways towards reducing the demand for oil in other areas, then when the economy and manufacturing regains momentum, the demand for oil will be slightly less, therefore hopefully breaking the cycle.

Well, we all gotta get to the store! Big truck traffic won't drop until there is a serious drop in loads being shipped. Now that gas prices have dropped so low again, there will be plenty of people that will go back to their old habits. I don't plan on going back to my old habits though. I like knocking out as many things in one trip as I can. Not only does it save gas, it saves headaches too.

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Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

We have always been conservative. We did not change either way. We only run trips for reasons to to drive around.

There are several areas to look at and ponder on the subject of fuel economy.

1)-From the beginning when the powers to be fought to get the speed limit lowered to 55 they wanted to use better fuel economy as a reason. Proof did not support this so they went with 55 saves lives. Statistic did not support this either. Speed limits in most states were raised and auto and engine manufacturers have been adament that slower speeds have a bad affect on engines.
Proof can be seen in a lot of automatic overdrive transmissions. In newer vehicles GM lockup torque converters in auto overdrives do not engage until 60 MPH.
Anyone driving a 3 or 4 speed auto overdrive may notice that the transmission, at 55, may go back and forth into and out of overdrive a lot. With more gears available a higher differential gear could be used with 1st gear being lower providing an even range through the gears.
With the advent of the lockup torque converter, 4, 5 and even 6 speed automatics, overdrive, and higher speed limits vehicles could drive at higher top end speeds with a lower RPM thus saving fuel.
2)- Why, has the U.S. been lax on producing vehicles that get better fuel economy?
3)-Why has the government been lax in requiring better fuel economy?
4)- Why does someone come up with an outdated plan to supposedly save fuel, and others support this plan, without facts.

We had a fuel scare in about 1974. Somewhere about 34 years ago. It took maybe 24 years or so from the invention of the jet engine to land on the moon. Automobiles have been around over 100 years.
We can go to the moon but can't solve a fuel problem. That is our government at work. Oil makes the world go around. Why have we waited 34 years to decide we need to do something?
These may be observed as rambling to some or as justifiable reasoning to others.
Do we just keep complaining or do something? My Volvo gets 31 MPG and my wifes Saturn gets 36 MPG. Does this compare to yours?

I am just suggesting that far to many people just float through life, taking things for granted, and then at a point wake up in shock like it was a surprise.

OTR500, Yes on some vehicles going 55 will cause the the transmissioin to go back and forth from overdrive to the next step down when approaching hills. My f-150 does this constantly especially since I put slightly larger, heavier tires on it and left the differentials stock. However it still get way better fuel mileage driving 55 with it constantly shifting back and forth, then it does at 65, 70, or 75mph. It' get about 14.5 at 55 versus 12.5 at 70mph. Even with today's vehicles spec'd with typical driving speeds of 65-70 they still get better fuel mileage at 55mph. What your saying breaks the laws of physics. When the first fuel crises pushed speed limits to 55mph most cars had 3 speed automatics or 4 speed manuals. The big thing in the late 70's and early 80's when the speed limit was still 55mph was 4 speed automatics and 5 speed manuals.

302 with a 4 spd manual 4x4


20 mpg at 55 mph

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The fact is this... almost any truck can get as many MPG's at 80 as the same truck at 65. How? Gearing. Remember the "Big Hole"? I used to be able to put my W900 (with a Cat C16) into it and cruise at 79 with 1250-1300 RPM's. Depending on the wind, weight and grade. Newer company trucks are not set up that way, but they could be.

Fuel for motor vehicles isn't the only thing that consumes oil. Things like plastics, for instance, also use petro-chemicals to produce, ---
and production is down for many products due to lagging sales. And that's world wide.
Supply and demand.

Manufacturing is demanding less, as well as motor fuel.

However, OPEC wants the per barrel price to increase to around
$75, and threatens to produce less to drive the price back up.
So, keep consumin' that fuel while y'all can.
Or, y'all can slow down a tad and use less.
One way or the other, we're gonna pay at the pump.

Osamma Bin-Bad-Boy wanted to attack our economy, as well as
the rest of the world's.
Seems he's succeeding.

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Pontificating Dogmatist