Would you drive 55mph to slow global warming?

Jamesblonde · Post by **Jamesblonde** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:23 am

Carolyn;592340 wrote: Since there is proof that driving slower saves on gasoline, why haven't our speed limits been reduced?

I don't believe it either

"For every mile per hour faster than 55 mph, fuel economy drops by about 1 percent, the drop-off increases at a greater rate after 65 mph. The faster you go, the faster the fuel goes."

But the slower you drive the longer it takes to get places and causes heavier traffic which means more cars are on the road for longer.

Would you be willing to slow down to help global warming and also save money on the gas you use--- and also cut down the loss of life in car accidents by 15%?

No, I would consider using a different type of car though or doing something that would actually make an appreciable difference.

zinkyusa · Post by **zinkyusa** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 5:18 am

I think a better approach is to move to a less carbon based economy....

Alternative based fuels are attractive, we have a school system here in North Carolina, on the Cherokee Indian Reservation, that is running it's buses on vegetable oil..

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:05 am

Far Rider;594669 wrote: Nope.

I drive heavy duty diesel trucks and I get the same gas miliage wether I go 55 or 75 even loaded to the gills.

And global warming is a lie...

Why do you think it is a lie and by whom? Definitely happening IMO but exactly how much is due to man is rather a moot point.

Out of curiosity what is the maximum weight you are allowed to carry? here it is 44 tons but maximum speed is only 60 on the motorway and lorries are banned from the outside overtaking lane.

http://www.tnn.co.uk/research/plonearti ... 8566897269

cars · Post by **cars** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:54 am

Yesterday, I parked in a resturaunt parking lot right next to a Camry "Hybrid"!

As I was getting out of my car, the conservation champion owner of this "beautiful" energy effecient car was getting into it. I just had to ask him how he liked the car. He said he loved it, & that the car had no problem crusing at 70+mph on the highways & the car still got the advertised 40mpg!

So, maybe the answer is not trying to slow drivers down to 55mph, but to rather have them drive more energy efficient conservation cars at the posted 60, 70, 80 mph speed limits!

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 5:13 am

cars;594854 wrote: Yesterday, I parked in a resturaunt parking lot right next to a Camry "Hybrid"!

As I was getting out of my car, the conservation champion owner of this "beautiful" energy effecient car was getting into it. I just had to ask him how he liked the car. He said he loved it, & that the car had no problem crusing at 70+mph on the highways & the car still got the advertised 40mpg!

So, maybe the answer is not trying to slow drivers down to 55mph, but to rather have them drive more energy efficient conservation cars at the posted 60, 70, 80 mph speed limits!

That's actually pretty crap-even allowing for the smaller US gallon. Most diesel cars will do more than that at motorway speeds-come to that my 1.5 petrol car does 40 to the gallon at motorway speeds. A diesel hybrid would make more sense that a petrol one.

This gets advertised as the best selling small car in america. I just can't believe it though.

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=727

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:51 am

Soberano;595305 wrote: Ah the Matiz, i looked at one of them for wifey, it just didn't look safe so we bought her a Renault Clio instead.

I used top be a Renault fan and have owned eight of them. I will never buy another one. They cost a fortune to run. By contrast I have a nissan almera now with 105,000 and apart from normal servicing hasn't cost me a penny extra.

The last straw was a Renault dealer-the third one I have dealt with that wasn't servicing the car properly. Also I hope you didn't buy a diesel because believe it or not despite putting in a heavier engine they do not upgrade the suspension so you find at 70,000 miles you replace suspension linkages and shock absorbers. Try asking some owners what they think of them. although the petrol ones seem OK. The last year i had one it cost me £1500 in repairs to the suspension-on a car worth £2,000 I had planned to keep it for another 50,000 or so miles before replacing it and then had it written off thanks to going through a flood and being passed by an idiot in a 4 X 4 that sent a massive wave in to my engine.

I will never but another renault, citroen or peugeot and probably not Nissan either because they are now part owned by Renault. I would always be wondering when it is going to start costing me a fortune to repair.

Jamesblonde · Post by **Jamesblonde** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:53 am

Some of the new Peugot's look alright.

4rum · Post by **4rum** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:02 am

Slow to avoid global warming??? After the April I've just spent... I'd drive like hell to get there!!!

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:49 pm

You know, as much as we negatively influence the environment with our habits/technology, here's the thing.... if the Earth is going to go through a natural climate change, global warming, cooling, whatever, (and it does happen naturally) there isn't a damn car we can drive to stop it.

Let's face it. We don't have entire control over our environment, whether negative or positive. If the climate is going to change, it's going to change.