2008 Woodie Awards
Slow down or pay the price
Issue date: 6/25/08 Section: Opinion
When I read the police reports in the Alestle and note all those who were issued a citation for speeding, I can't help but think about just how much gasoline is wasted by them doing so. I've been thinking a lot about this topic, especially now that gas is $4.09 a gallon!
I first started driving in late 1992, and back then the highway speed limit in Illinois was 45 mph, 55 mph on the interstates. In 1995, Congress passed the National Highway System Designation Act, which repealed the federal speed limit of 55 mph. Later that year President Clinton signed this law, and Illinois quickly raised its limits to 55 mph highway/65 mph interstate. There was a big debate back then as to whether or not this was a wise decision.
At the time I was 18 and in college, so to me this was a very wise decision, especially when gas at the time was about $1 a gallon.
As I look back now, 13 years later, I wonder just how wise this decision was.
According to the EPA statistics from fueleconomy.gov, increasing your cruising speed from 55 mph to 75 mph with all other factors the same can raise fuel consumption as much as 20 percent. You can improve your gas mileage 10 to 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph. I have started doing this, and many drivers have passed me, especially in the 55 mph speed zones! I can't help but to just laugh at the fact that they will fill up their vehicles more often than I will, thus spending more money than me.
I understand that young drivers tend to be more risk takers, and since I've been driving for 16 years, I'm more conservative, so I know they will pass me without a second thought. What I want to pass along to all who read this is to slow down. Not only does driving faster mean you waste extra fuel, which is rather pricey, but you also decrease your reaction time. It doesn't matter if you get to where you are going late, all that matters is that you arrive alive.
Jim Clarida
Senior, Education
I first started driving in late 1992, and back then the highway speed limit in Illinois was 45 mph, 55 mph on the interstates. In 1995, Congress passed the National Highway System Designation Act, which repealed the federal speed limit of 55 mph. Later that year President Clinton signed this law, and Illinois quickly raised its limits to 55 mph highway/65 mph interstate. There was a big debate back then as to whether or not this was a wise decision.
At the time I was 18 and in college, so to me this was a very wise decision, especially when gas at the time was about $1 a gallon.
As I look back now, 13 years later, I wonder just how wise this decision was.
According to the EPA statistics from fueleconomy.gov, increasing your cruising speed from 55 mph to 75 mph with all other factors the same can raise fuel consumption as much as 20 percent. You can improve your gas mileage 10 to 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph. I have started doing this, and many drivers have passed me, especially in the 55 mph speed zones! I can't help but to just laugh at the fact that they will fill up their vehicles more often than I will, thus spending more money than me.
I understand that young drivers tend to be more risk takers, and since I've been driving for 16 years, I'm more conservative, so I know they will pass me without a second thought. What I want to pass along to all who read this is to slow down. Not only does driving faster mean you waste extra fuel, which is rather pricey, but you also decrease your reaction time. It doesn't matter if you get to where you are going late, all that matters is that you arrive alive.
Jim Clarida
Senior, Education
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Adam H
posted 6/25/08 @ 4:13 PM CST
Have you considered driving faster can improve efficiency? So maybe the extra spent in gas is offset or even trumped by the time efficiency and potential added productive time to increase their wealth beyond saving a dollar or two by spending more time in their automobile. (Continued…)
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