Abunai's Blog

Apparently the world likes it faster! No over time to pay for traveling professional people, the media would be late getting the story, and stores don't get as much delivered causing stocked things questionable for back orders! They really hate dealing with back orders don't you know!

I would think driving 55 would save a little on gas mileage. Maybe doing so over a period of time, will save some money. I own a SUV, and for some reason, since I have slowed down a little (ok, I admit, more due to age than anything else...LOL) I now am getting 16 miles to the gallon instead of the average 12-14.. However, I am religious about getting oil changes done on time, so that may be the key. But on the flip side of things, I do think more people should drive around 55 instead of 70+, especially those who are getting up there in age. For example a story I can share is driving around with my 88 year old Grandfather before he passed away. I dearly loved the man, however when he went over 55, it was like riding a roller coaster and even though his eyesight was not the greatest, he would not let anyone else drive him around. By the time we got across town, even if it were 15 minutes away, I was literally shaking and needed valium..lol. The crazy part is, I have seen more road rage from older people for the last couple of years and seeing them flip the bird, well let's just say that leaves me cracking up so badly that I have no choice but to slow down while laughing. I would like to see at least more people use the rule of thumb that if you're going to drive slower than others, stay in the right hand lane on the highway.

A little thought for all;
MPH or miles per hour, 55 mph means you will go 55 miles in 1 hour
So if you do 60 mph which means you will go 60 miles in 1 hour, would you not get to your destination faster and thus save fuel due to the less time to travel to someplace.

We are already cutting back our fuel useage. We are driving less. People are dumping their big SUVs in favor of more economical cars, myself included. I don't think the American public would ever stand for 55MPH again. And why should we? Every swinging dick in DC flys charter. You know how much fuel that uses? Not to mention the "carbon footprint" that has Uncle Al Gore so worried. Not worried enough for him to give up his plane though.

The 55 MPH didn't work before. People still drove 70 plus. Some will slow down, but most won't. It won't work.

You guys are so wrong. There is not way a big SUV will get better mileage at 81 than 55. Just outright nonesense. It's just that Americans are such gluttons that we'll make any excuse to explain our 'waste'. If anything they should bring back 55. In fcat most of I-4 is already 55 and downtown 50. Anyone going over 65 should be ticketed, Period. And in fact if you drive a huge v-8 SUV they should make the speed limit 45 for you guys. You waste twice the gas as cars.

There's no question 55 is more fuel efficient for large vehicles such as vans and SUVs (not true for sports cars but that's another issue).

However, a government mandate to lower the speed limit is the completely wrong approach to address this issue. Education of people and a sense of accountability would go further.

Charing an impact fee for mammoth SUVs would actually make more sense. Then people have the "right" to waste fuel if they want... but they have a sense of having to PAY for it.

Guess what!!! We did that in the 70's to save fuel and lower gas prices. Look at how much it helped.

I guess most of you are too young to remember that we had a national speed limit of 55 back during the gas crisis in Nixon's administration. States that refused to lower the speed limit lost their federal highway money.

Yes, it does save gas, reduces the demand, which causes the price to go down.

And it has the added benefit of saving lives - something like 1000 lives a year for every 1 mph of reduction. I don't remember the exact number, but it's substantial.

Of course, back then even Republicans were concerned about the nation's interests, not just their own self-interest. We don't have Republicans like that anymore, and damn few Democrats.

I need roadhogs mail!