National speed limit pushed as gas saver

[Bolt_Gundam510]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices.

Sen. John Warner has asked the Energy Department at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient.

Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.

Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.

As motorists headed on trips for this Fourth of July weekend, gasoline averaged $4.10 a gallon nationwide, with oil hovering around $145 a barrel.

Warner cited studies that showed the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption, while avoiding up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year.

"Given the significant increase in the number of vehicles on America's highway system from 1974 to 2008, one could assume that the amount of fuel that could be conserved today is far greater," Warner wrote Bodman.

Warner asked the department to determine at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient, how much fuel savings would be achieved, and whether it would be reasonable to assume there would be a reduction in prices at the pump if the speed limit were lowered.

Energy Department spokeswoman Angela Hill said the department will review Warner's letter but added, "If Congress is serious about addressing gasoline prices, they must take action on expanding domestic oil and natural gas production."

The department's Web site says that fuel efficiency decreases rapidly when traveling faster than 60 mph. Every additional 5 mph over that threshold is estimated to cost motorists "essentially an additional 30 cents per gallon in fuel costs," Warner said in his letter, citing the DOE data.

Source: CNN POLITICS

[nsane]

uhm, i paid to put the gas in my car, what business is it of theirs if i waste my money? ;)

another retarded use of a law, next thing you know there will be a law telling you to wipe you ass downward not upward to conserve paper. why not just spend a little money and make some commercials (for Lost, Survivor, and other brainwashing shows) informing people of the possible economic benefits, instead of taking yet ANOTHER one of our rights away? ;)

[vin3e]

@ Nsane

hahaha. Yes because wiping upwards has tremendous benefits.

Oh your sarcasm amuses mee

[myidisbb]

uhm, i paid to put the gas in my car, what business is it of theirs if i waste my money? :D

another retarded use of a law, next thing you know there will be a law telling you to wipe you ass downward not upward to conserve paper. why not just spend a little money and make some commercials (for Lost, Survivor, and other brainwashing shows) informing people of the possible economic benefits, instead of taking yet ANOTHER one of our rights away? :)

the cost in man hours, state time and making and chaning the speed signs would be too costly to begin with\

when they raise them before they try to 55 saves lives to try to keep it 55.

its all about more speed tickets

[Toshiro]

its all about more speed tickets

got that right :rolleyes: they know young people will overstep the speedlmit.