Driving 55

So you really want to get "run over"? While I agree with the thought of slowing down, I would say (legal opinion here, from someone without qualifications) driving at 55 in LA (or any other large city in the US and Canada) would constitute "dangerous driving, being a hazard to traffic, etc, etc".

 

I read Gary's column religiously, but I have to say:

Here in CA, if you go 55, you'll get run over by all the yokels going 70+.

I've always thought that safety is a concern of at least equal weight with FE, and it's simply NOT safe to tool along at 55 when the prevailing traffic is going 65 or more.

The old saying that "speed kills" is wrong; it's "differential speed kills".

 

Great to hear from Canada ... and thanks for your 'expert' opinion on U.S. driving law . We're just 35-45 miles south of L.A. and have no problems driving 55mph. In fact, much of the freeways have a 55mph MAX speed for trucks w/ trailers. That works for me, as MPG improves when I tuck in behind them (not too close though) ... and if any body races up behind "us" ... well, the racer understands it's simply the trucks speed. 55mph? heck, during much of daytime driving in the L.A. area, you can't even get up to 45mph what with grid lock ... why do you think folks are willing to pay a $3K premium for a Prius w/ solo car pool stickers?

As for the article, the author would ALSO find that if he drives 50mph-51mph, that his mpg would go up to even more, to about 63.5 mpg (with one person, and 61.3mpg with two people). For me, at 4am there's little traffic on the road, and doing 51mph doesn't bother anyone.

 

You can drive 55. Just not in the HOV lanes.

You find yourself an old truck or clunker on the right and either get behind them or get in front of them.

 

I think we can safely say that the slower you go, the better your fuel economy. Obviously, if you're driving 55 you're going to get better fuel economy than if you're driving 70. But where do we draw the line? You're going to get better fuel economy at 35mph, than at 55. Should we make a national speed limit of 35? Would be a sight to see having thousands of people driving 35 mph on an 8 lane, 12' wide per lane highway. Heck, we can get rid of airbags if we lower the speed limit and deaths on the freeway should plummet.

Reasons to make a 35mph national maximum speed:
1) Even crappy cars can get better fuel economy.
2) Lower-tech suspensions for lower travel speed = lower vehicle cost.
3) No need for airbags.
4) Vehicle maintenance, such as lubricants, will need to be replaced less frequently due to lower operating temperatures.
5) Only a 10mph difference in speed between yourself and the bicycle going 25mph next to you would mean bicycling would be safer.
6) Would promote the use of a bicycle as you're only able to go 10mph faster in your car.... so suddenly that $200 bicycle makes sense over the $20,000 car.
7) Horseback may make a comeback as an alternate source of commuting.

The list goes on and on.

 

Can you say the word, "Addiction?" There, I knew you could.

I read today that a certain oil company is making $1,500 a second!

And it's one, two, three what are we fighting for? O I L

Let's remember who is in the White House and which segment of the population is profiting from the high price of oil.

I find it incredible that we're even having this debate. Let's drive 55 to save lives and fuel.

And maybe for once we can return to the days when this country acted as a positive example for the rest of the world instead of acting like a goddamn herd of sheep.

 

So why not drive 35, and save more lives and fuel?

 

I'm sorry but I have to say this.. I've seen it posted in many different threads that you are somehow creating a dangerous situation by driving the posted speed limit...

BS!!!!!!!!!

Others are creating a dangerous situation by driving over the limit.. and you are simply not perpetuating it! If you were driving 45 in a 55 w/ no hazards.. or 35, etc... yes, dangerous.. But the limits is just that, the LIMIT.

The only two speeding tickets I've had in the last 10-15 years have been while I was "keeping up" with traffic... The police don't care that "everyone else is doing it!".. it's illegal to exceed the speed limit. Always. Period.

 

Drove 65 going to Irvine last week. My route was 15N-78W-5N-405N.

I averaged 50mpg for that trip.

On the way back at 10:30PM, i drove 55 the same route just reversed obviously.

Average for that was 68mpg

 

Oh Lord, can't you join in a discussion of speed limits without bringing up your dislike of the White House incumbent? Chances are, if this comes up in Congress next year, there'll be someone to your liking in the WH, and then who will you blame?

 

I have proof, I drive 40 miles to work on the meritt parkway.

I used to go 65 and get 47 mpg now i drive 60 and get 51 mpg (note lower milage due to touring edition)

As for getting run over I used to think that too until I tried it. I have yet to be run over.

 

Yup. Same here. I used to say that you MUST go 75 mph around here or you are a menace. Surprisingly, that was just self-serving. Doing 55 on those same roads for the past ten years has shown me just how silly this whole discussion is.

Yeah, speed differential is bad. Speed is worse. Make everybody safer and slow the whole mess down. Eventually somebody is gonna have to save us from ourselves. We don't seem bright enough to do it without help.

 

Re: speed differential. I've had two friends who were in serious crashes on freeways where they were going much slower than the car that hit them.

However... they were both nearly stopped because of backed up traffic. They were both rear-ended by cars that didn't slow down. I wonder if this is where "speed differential kills" comes from.

 

You tell me why we're contemplating opening one of the last real frontiers in this country to drilling and not embracing one of the most painfully logical strategies to save fuel.

Yeah, it is the administration and congress.