Is it Time To Lower The Speed Limit to 55 MPH

On July 3rd, 2008 Virginia Senator John Warner suggested to Congress that they reimpose a national speed limit of 55 miles per hour to save on gas and possibly ease fuel prices.  Senator Warner is not suggesting a particular speed.

Senator Warner did write a letter to the Department of Energy asking them to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gas efficiency according to current automobile technology. 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.

Senator Warner also cited in his letter that studies show if the national speed limit was 55 miles per gallon, the it would save 167,000 barrels of oil a day or 2% of the nation’s highway fuel consumption.  He also stated that studies show that there is an increase in gas mileage when you drive 55 miles per hour and there is a possibility of avoiding 4,000 traffic deaths per year.

All this from a guy who has his gasoline paid for by the taxpayers.  The major question is are we ready to slow down?  We have become a nation that is in a hurry to get from place to place.  It has been 34 years since the national speed limit was set at 55 miles per hour.  It took an oil embargo in 1974 for Congress to set the national speed limit at 55 miles per hour. There are many benefits to reducing the national speed limits to 55 miles per hour including better gas mileage, less traffic deaths, and cleaner air.  But is the nation ready to go from 70 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour.  Only time will tell the story, something definitely has to be done, but I don’t this is the only solution that Congress can come up with.

If you take a look at the top 3 corporations that are making the highest profits, Walmart is first; the second and third positions are held by Exon and Shell, respectively.  I think this says it all;  we are paying the price, while Exon and Shell’s pockets are bulging at the seams.  Doesn’t seem quite right does it?  What do you think?