I Can Drive 55...

[JFN1]

So I have to drive a lot.

I live in a rural area. The average distance between towns is about 15 miles, and thus I end up driving about 300 miles a week.

I have a choice, when I drive.

I can take the Interstate highway, and drive 65-70 miles per hour to reach my destinations.

Or, I can take the State route that runs parallel to the Interstate, and drive 55-60 miles per hour.

A few months ago, I started leaving earlier and allowing myself more time between stops so that I could take the State route.

Last month, I estimate that I saved about $200 in gas by simply driving 55-60 miles per hour on the State route. I increased my gas mileage by something like 30%.

When I was in my 20's, the speed limit was 55. I hated it. It was too slow, I was in too much of a hurry, and besides - my car was FAST!!!!!

Now, in my 40's, I can definitely see the advantages to driving 55.

So - in conclusion - I think we should consider reinstating the national 55 mph speed limit. I have experienced real savings and used less gas in the process - and - I still met my responsibilities without problem.

So what do you think?

Can you drive 55?

[DS1]

1. I'm fine with it

even though believe it or not, due to aerodynamics my car is more efficient at 60.

[CRF450]

12. Same deal for my car, it gets its best between 65 and 75mph

Especially being a high powered performance car which is geared very tall. Its gotten its best fuel economy going 74mph on a 700 mile trip, at that speed the engine is only running around 1700rpm! My truck on the other hand gets it best at 60mph, its gearing is somewhat tall, but because its a truck with shitty aerodynamics compared to my Trans Am, it wont get its best at high speeds like my car can.

[Greyskye]

17. Sorry, I don't believe it.

Aerodynamic drag increases as a factor of speed regardless of what your CoD is. NO cars exist that get better MPG going faster as opposed to going slower.

[TahitiNut]

20. Again ... the map is NOT the territory and the model is NOT the reality.

While such overly simplified models may assist a student in comprehending the more elementary ELEMENTS of the real world, the presumption that such reductionist and simplistic cartoons are com comprehensive substitute for reality is grade-school thinking. Ignored in that model are the complexities of the engine and drive train engineered to convert fuel into momentum. The automobile is itself engineered to operate most efficiently at specific engine RPMs and transmission gearing. That's the reality.

Clue for new passengers on the clue train: Wind tunnels exist because cartoons and high-school math just don't cut it.
Climb aboard.
:eyes:

[DS1]

24. and don't forget, air pressure is absolutely linear

:crazy:


:D

[PVnRT]

25. PVnRT! PVnRT! PVnRT!

[TahitiNut]

43. The only "ideal gas" is a sophomoric brain fart.

:rofl:

[PVnRT]

56. I found ether pretty ideal in college

Especially when we soaked a flag bandana with it.

[Greyskye]

42. I realize that your reply is full of snark...

...but for any who don't, the aerodynamic drag varies with the square of the vehicle speed, so if the speed of the vehicle is doubled, the drag quadruples.

[TahitiNut]

45. Again, that's the "ideal" that isn't a reality.

Such textbook models barely approximate real world situations. An automobile is a COMPLEX aerodynamic shape anda roadway is NOT a stable, uniform atmospheric environment. In reality, other phenomona such as laminar flow, Bernoulli effect, and turbulence have non-trivial effects. Also again, it's far more than some theoretical force that attains and maintains the vehicle's velocity. Thus, the rate of fuel consumption has many other components.

[Greyskye]

47. Yep, the simplistic formula that I gave is best case.

The other factors that you mention, will, for the most part, cause drag to increase.

If you're looking for an argument, that door is down the hall.

[girl gone mad]

54. Your argument lacks any specifics.

What in particular is special about your car that causes it to defy the textbook examples?

Just trying to understand...

[yellowcanine]

30. There are other factors besides aerodynamics. Engine rpm for one thing.

Going too slowly can mean one has to downshift and accelerate more often to go up hill and not take advantage of gravity down hill. Having said that, I doubt the 60 mph figure quoted by the poster. I believe the "ideal" speed for maximum mpg is actually closer to 40 mph.

[NoGOPZone]

34. Sixty I can believe

The government ran a test on some cars about a decade ago, and a Celica did quite a bit better at 60 than 55, although it's best speed was 25 mpg.

http://cta.ornl.gov/data/tedb27/Edition27_Full_Doc.pdf at page 112

It's the 70 and above claims made without any evidence, let alone proof that are hard to believe.
I've even seen 80 mentioned as an optimal speed on this web site. Show me, I say.

[DS1]

50. I used to make a 250 mile trip on a regular basis

and I had enough times to try it at different speeds. Sometimes out of nerdery, others out of boredom *the fast runs*

Cruise control was used as much as possible to ensure fairness. My car is very sleek in the wind at reasonable speeds.

[hlthe2b]

2. I could and I would if I wouldn't get run over...

My route is full of high speed tail-huggers, as it is and hugging the right lane won't prevent the inevitable 'rear-enders'...

[DailyGrind51]

22. Get a bumper sticker that reads "If you come any closer, you'll have to buy me dinner!"

Trust me, they'll back off!;-)

[hlthe2b]

39. LOL

:7

[taterguy]

3. I'd be fine with it

But the people who drive vast distances in the West probably wouldn't

[rurallib]

4. I live in an area like yours

I have been driving 55 since 2003. takes only slightly more time and saves tons of gas. I used to get passed all the time, but more and more folks are driving 55.
On the interstate I go 65 when we visit the kids (200 and 350 miles) and we get really good mileage, 36 mpg.

[CountAllVotes]

5. I've been driving at 55 mph

and I do get better mileage (up about 15%). I plan to keep doing it. I strongly prefer getting 27 mpg rather than 23 mpg.

:dem:

[Misskittycat]

7. So am I, including on California freeways. Other people are going 55, too.

[CountAllVotes]

11. I've noticed that too

However, it never fails that some huge SUV goes blowing past me going 80 mph. About a week ago I was doing 55 (cruise control was set) in the slow lane and a big rig came up behind me and was tailgating me. Finally, after this went on for awhile, the rig decided to pass me and was going really fast (like 80 mph). The rig kept going at this speed in the #1 lane and all of a sudden I saw lights flashing in my rear view mirror. Seems a highway patrol saw the rig and the tailgating and pulled the rig over for one fatty ticket no doubt. :nopity:

At gasoline costing close to $5.00 a gallon in California you'd think more people would be driving at 55 mph! :think:

:kick:

[Misskittycat]

19. Before the current crisis, you couldn't even drive 55 in the slow lane.

You'd be hounded off the freeway. Now I can sometimes go 55 in the 2nd lane also; there are definitely other cars slowing down.

I also tested it out "scientifically." There's a 30 mile each way trip that I make about once a week. It is all freeway, from my door to this particular office. By slowing down, I was certainly saving gas.

[AndyA]

6. I've read that vehicles are most efficient at 55-60 mph, so I think it's a great idea.

I also read where you arrive at your destination more refreshed after driving 55. :shrug:

[tech3149]

21. Aerodynamic drag is negligable below 60mph

I don't do much highway driving anymore, but my last trips showed a 35% difference where the avg speeds were 75-80mph as opposed to 60-65mph. I drive local roads at better than 65 but I let gravity do the work. I can get 30% better mileage than the car is rated for just by changing my driving style. I admit I love my speed, but I don't want to go broke to enjoy it.

[yellowcanine]

8. I prefer voluntary solutions - like a "speed camera lottery".

Set up speed cameras on well traveled routes. Anyone traveling 55 mph + or - 5 mph gets entered into a daily lottery. A drawing is made daily and the winner gets $100. Monthly drawings for $1 million for all of the drivers who qualified that month. Winnings are funded from the proceeds of those fined $25 for going more than 5 mph over the speed limit.

[cabbage08]

10. Interesting idea

[JFN1]

15. I like it!!

That is a great idea!!

[MindPilot]

28. Another big-brother supporter!

Oboy! Just what we need, more surveillance.

Can I put a camera in your house? It's just to make sure you don't do anything that may be unhealthy.

[yellowcanine]

29. Oh grow up. There is no expectation of privacy on a public highway. There is in your house.

Besides, the camera photographs the license plate - not the driver. The driver can choose to remain anonomyous if he/she wishes.

[MindPilot]

33. Please explain...

Exactly how does someone who gets a camera-issued cite remain anonymous?

[yellowcanine]

38. The owner of the car is fined. The owner does not have to reveal who was driving the car and

the record of the violation does not go on anyone's driving record. The only way anyone will know who was actually driving the car is if the owner contests the citation. And as I noted, there is no legal expectation of privacy while driving on public roads anyway.

[MindPilot]

55. It's a speeding ticket; you pay the fine it goes on your record.

And then your insurance goes up, but you never got your Constitutional right to face your accuser because it is a machine.

More cameras, more surveillance, feel safer yet?

[yellowcanine]

66. Nope. You are quite wrong. It does not go on your driving record because the state

cannot prove who was driving. By paying the fine you are not pleading guilty as you are with regular speeding tickets. And you get no points on your license so your insurance does not go up. In fact your insurance company does not even find out - it is not on your driving record. It is like a parking ticket. The only way anything shows up on your driving record is if you don't pay it. I know - both my wife and I have gotten several camera red light and speeding tickets and it has never done squat to our insurance. Feeling less paranoid now?

[dmallind]

9. I'm not picking on you - just want to understand

you drive approx 1200 miles a month.

Your mileage improved by 30% and you saved $200?

That would imply that $200/30% or about $667 a month was your spend on gas.

Even assuming you are in a high priced area at say $4.50 a gallon that means at least 148 gallons (if we minimize the number of gallons bought that maximizes your extrapolated mpg)

1200 miles by 148 gallons is 8mpg?

Again not nitpicking just want to understand - do you drive some massive truck fully loaded or is the $200 savings cumulative over several months?

Either way it's all good and well done for finding a way to cut gas despite your long commutes (I'm in the exurbs/boonies myself - and I work in a different exurb/boony so I can relate. A lot of the urbanite DU core ignores the inability of those who both live and work in the semi-rural or rural outreaches to do anything but drive a car).

[JFN1]

13. It's a delivery truck

that carries heavy machine parts - it averages about 8-10 mpg...sorry, I should have been more clear on that...I have not tracked the savings on my personal vehicle, though I have been employing the same tactics...

[dmallind]

69. Ah gotcha - many thanks. NT

lj

[RB TexLa]

14. I already drive that speed on the interstates, it's more relaxing.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. Fuck That. Ain't Gonna Happen.

You go ahead and keep taking your little back route. Let the rest of us make our own damn decisions.

Ain't a way in hell I'm gonna do 55.

[Bill McBlueState]

23. That's what I was going to say

But I'm sure that your version, with the attitude and the profanity, made a much better impression on the OP and will no doubt lead to further productive discussion.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. Glad I Posted First.

I hate wuss versions...

[Mz Pip]

18. 90% of my driving is done

within a 10 mile radius of my house. I rarely get up to 35 mph. So I figure I can put the petal to the metal on those other occasions when I drive on the interstate where the speed limit is 70mph.

Maybe it all averages out to 55.

[MindPilot]

27. Congestion, not speed, is the big waster.

Most cars today are way more aerodynamically efficient than they were in the 70's and their aggregate gear ratio is much taller resulting in better mileage at higher speeds.

The real trick is to maintain a steady speed. No speed is efficient if you put yourself in a position of constantly having to speed up and slow down.

The speeds on the freeways are not the problem--even at 80 or 90, an SUV is more efficient moving at a constant speed than an aerodynamic vehicle accelerating to 30 and then stopping for the next light, over and over.

Want to really save gas? Get your reps to pass laws requiring cities and towns to sync their traffic signals to maximize the flow of traffic. Chances are real good that right now the lights in your town are deliberately timed to maximize ticket potential.

[JFN1]

32. Totally agree

idling for three hours in traffic is a terrible waste of gas. When I lived in the big city, the carpool lanes were always empty while the rest of us chugged along bumper to bumper...I wonder - is this still true, or are more people carpooling now?

[MindPilot]

35. The carpool lanes are often just as congested as the other lanes

And in many cases you don't want to get in the carpool lane because you won't be able to get back over to your exit.

[JFN1]

41. So would you say carpool lanes actually hurt traffic flow, rather than help it?

Because that is what I believe.

[MindPilot]

52. Yes, I agree and I also think they are kind of discriminatory in that

the law--at least in CA--is two or more people in the vehicle. I think it should be two or more licensed drivers; someone can have an SUV full of kids or drive their elderly parent and legitimately use the carpool lane, but they are not effectively removing any other vehicle from the road by doing so.

I often wonder when I look at the cars in the carpool lanes, how many of those represent at least one other car that's not on the road today? I think it is not all that many. I think most of the people together in a vehicle would be there anyway.

I think at this point pretty much everyone who can carpool is. Same for public transportation. There are a whole bunch of people for whom ridesharing or public transportation is just not viable.

[Recursion]

31. Last time I commuted in a car was in Northern Virginia

You were lucky to be going 10 miles an hour, whatever road you took.

[CRF450]

36. Why even worry about how fast the speeds are on the highways and interstates??

Its the stop and go, congested traffic in cities thats doing all the wasting!

[Firespirit]

37. The hell with that.

It won't make a bit of difference for global warming; the earth has almost certainly passed a tipping point already and this kind of thing amounts to bailing out a boat with an eyedropper. We should be focusing on how to survive in a different climate regime now. As far as cost goes, my car gets very good mileage and I can't tell a difference between its gas mileage at 55 and 65. It's a small car, and I'm damned if I'll drive 10 under the speed limit when just driving the speed limit is an invitation for jerks in their big trucks to tailgate and pretend to run me down for the sheer psychopathic hell of it.

[LWolf]

40. No problem.

I generally take back roads, and avoid going through town unless I have to. There are no speed limits higher than 55 where I live, but I don't always go that fast on the back roads. Generally 50-55, unless it's curvy, icy, or just too beautiful to rush by.

[Yavapai]

44. I think if you are going to drive 55, stay in the right lane!

You don't live in a rural area, I do.

It is 80 miles one way to get groceries and 32 miles one way to get my mail!

30 miles of that is a rocky dirt road.

As an expirament, I tried 60 MPH a couple times last month and it saved me almost nothing, but took forever to
do these simple chores. Yes, we only go for groceries once a month and get our mail once per week, but
I would like to spend my remaining years doing something besides driving. If I was not retired,
I would really hate driving every day doing 55!

Don't have any problem with you doing 55 IN THE RIGHT LANE!

[WillowTree]

46. I can and I do.

And I laugh my ample ass of literally every morning on the way to work when I see the same cars that whizzed past me a half mile ago waiting at the same stop light at the top of the off ramp when I get there.

Once I got used to driving at or below the limit, it made driving considerably less stressful for me. And I don't find that I arrive at my destinations noticeably later than I would have if I had rushed all the way there.

[Wizard777]

48. Where is Sammy Hagar Rocks? I want to vote for that and him.

He's one of the few politicians that can write the sound track for his agenda. We need more people like him in Government.

[freestyle]

49. I just did a long trip driving 65 and got 50 mpg.

I drive a diesel. On the highway, the big drop in fuel efficiency does not happen until around 70. I have slowed down a lot due to fuel prices. 80 used to be my normal highway speed. I can't afford it anymore. 55 still feels like crawling. I'm just not there yet. At $6.00 per gallon, I will re-evaluate.

[carlyhippy]

51. I have drastically changed my driving habits in the past few months

I coast up to stop signs and red lights, keep a slow speed in town, I noticed that below 60 on the highway my gas mileage is lots better in my SUV. I recently had an occasion where I needed to get from point A to point B by driving in town much faster than usual, and I could watch the needle move on the gas gauge as I was romping on the accelerator, so lesson learned quite quickly.

[dysfunctional press]

53. why can't you just go 55-60 on the interstate?

:shrug:

[Imagevision]

57. It effectively worked in 73, gas surplus stateside actually caught up with itself and you

could see 9-12 oil tankers waiting in line to unload just offshore in fort lauderdale...

[Juneboarder]

58. Yes I Can!

Anything to save the moolah!!

:think:

[Common Sense Party]

59. I travel and work in Wyoming and other deserted states.

75 is necessary to maintain sanity.

[NutmegYankee]

60. Not just NO, HELL NO!

My car gets its best mileage at 62-63 mph. Second, I drive a 5 speed, and 55 is too slow for 5th gear, but stresses 4th gear with high RPMs that waste fuel. I don't drive a POS from the 70's, so why should I drive a 70's speed?

[CRF450]

64. Mine cant go into 6th gear without lugging the engine at 55.

Same deal in 5th gear, it turns at much higher rpm's which is basically using more gas. And being that its a high performance sports car, it easily cuts through the air. I'v gotten 31mpg on the interstate going 74mph, I highly doubt it would get any better putting along at 55 in 5th gear when I could go up to 65 or 70 in 6th. The engine only turns at 1400rpm at 65 in 6th.

[csziggy]

61. I live 10 miles out of town on a road with a 45 mph limit

So I can do 55 mph, no problem. I love to torture speeders on our road - I put my truck on cruise control at 45 and ignore them. There is only one place to pass between where I turn out and town so they get really frustrated.

Of course, if they'd do the math, in 10 miles the amount of time they would "save" by going 55 or better versus going 45 is negligible. Often the people who pass me are sitting at the first light in town when I get there. :rofl:

[cobalt1999]

62. My motorcycle wouldn't even be in top gear at 55mph

I get my best highway mileage at 60-65mph when I'm running low rpms at top gear.

[yellowcanine]

71. A cop won't look twice at you doing 60-65 in a 55 zone.

[ZombieHorde]

63. It's 75 in Montana, it used to be "safe and resonable", but out of staters were upset.

[sakabatou]

65. Well seeing as I haven't driven since high school

I dunno.

[Jack_DeLeon]

67. I prefer 60-65mph myself....

55mph is too slow.

[AZBlue]

68. Not only can I do it, I already do it!

And I am saving lots of money doing it.

[DailyGrind51]

70. Some will not slow down, others will not give up their Hummers,

Expeditions, Suburbans, etc., still others will not give up their ATVs, power boats, private planes, and, with no one giving an inch on what "they" perceive as their "rights", nothing is resolved, and people like Ronald Reagan or George W. Bush get elected.

"When you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem!"