Driving at 55 MPH

[MelBay]

Hubby rides a Harley on road trips, and says 55 MPH saves him about 40% on consumption. He has a small tank obviously, so he doesn't have to stop as often either, other than if his bladder squaks first. :ignore:

 

[MelBay]

Just got this month's Body & Soul magazine. Thought this was appropriate to share:

"Slow down. One second of speeding can produce the same amount of CO2 emissions as a half hour of normal driving, accordint to greencars.org. It's not good for your wallet, either. If you go 70 mph instead of 60 mph, it's as if you're paying 40 cents more per gallon of gas."

So, 55 has to be even better.

 

[Passepartout]

.... according to greencars.org. It's not good for your wallet, either. If you go 70 mph instead of 60 mph, it's as if you're paying 40 cents more per gallon of gas."

That's a really great graphic way to describe the savings. Somehow when you reduce it to miles per gallon, it doesn't sink in, but everybody understands what a gallon costs.

Here's another: Prius: $.09 per mile- Hummer: $.50/mi.- Peterbilt: $.95/mi

Jim Ricks

 

[vacationhopeful]

As for TS vacationing, when I travel to my Ft Lauderdale TS, I don't rent a car. I take BCT or a rare taxi. I have replied to many threads here about the CHEAP and convienent bus network in Broward County. TriRail has free shuttles from its nearby stations to the Miami, Ft Lauderdale and West Palm Airports ... you have a pay for a TriRail ticket.

Last week at FLL, my 13 yo nephew pickup his luggage and started for the escalator ... when I asked where he was headed his reply was "to the rental car (a directional sign)". I stated we weren't getting a rental car, we were taking a taxi to the resort. His next question was "we are getting the rental car tomorrow?". No rental car, we will be using the bus.

After a week, he told me that we had spent only $15 on bus tickets and $20.50 on our 1 and only taxi ride. He also learned to read a bus schedule, flag a bus down, located bus stops, some bus riding protocal, and budget a little extra time to wait for the bus. We ate out every night (and most lunches), went to two malls, visited friends at their home, and had food/water in the unit. And the furthest he walked, 4-5 blocks.

He learned an important lesson, didn't he?

 

[stevedmatt]

And for the longest trip mentioned, the roughly 600 miles OKC to Corpus, the difference is less than a half hour. Big deal! Less time than a coffee stop. Or the time it takes a cop to write the ticket. Based on 25 mpg at 60 and 20mpg at 70, that's about 5 gallons of fuel, nearly $20.

Some people are happy to buy time at the rate of $40/hour.

I have to correct you.

600 miles at 60 MPH is 10 hours.
600 miles at 70 MPH is 8 hours 34 minutes

So if you feel your time is worth less than $14 an hour, drive slower because your making money, but if you feel your time is worth more than $14 an hour, go ahead a drive 70, as long as that is not above the posted limit.

Your also assuming that you will increase 5 MPG by slowing down just 10 MPH. A lot of that is determined by the engine and gear ratios of your transmission and axle.

The car I use for most of my longer trips had a sticker on the window when we bought it that said 18 city and 26 highway. I drive these longer trips all on highway and average 25 MPG at 70-75 MPH. I'm not slowing down to gain 1 MPG unless the laws change.

 

[Htoo0]

I enjoy cruising down an open road at a speed I choose and don't care if there's another car in sight. It's not about wanting to be a racecar driver. It's not even usually about time. I just enjoy it like some enjoy blasting around on their jet-skis or in their speedboats, or others beating up their sometimes brand-new trucks four-wheeling. If some don't get that, I can't explain it to them. Lots of people don't get time-sharing either. I certainy don't think we should pass laws to regulate fuel usage but when people start talking about bringing back the double-nickel law, I like to point out there are other laws we could pass which would probably save even more fuel (and lives). We all have our points of view and I'm simply stating mine. It's ok if you don't agree, I'm not attempting to convince everyone I'm right and you're wrong. I'm just saying that if you want to talk about restricting one person's choice of fuel usage (driving faster than the optimal fuel usage for your vehicle), keep in mind someone else might think it's a great idea to limit something which it just so happens you enjoy.

 

[Kal]

Another way to look at it would be this comparison:

* A person with 3 overflowing plates at a banquet (when there is limited food and lots of people)

* A person sitting at a banquet lighting his $100 bills on fire

In one case it appears to be a foolish person while in the other case it's a person who directly affects others by their action.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have to correct you.

600 miles at 60 MPH is 10 hours.
600 miles at 70 MPH is 8 hours 34 minutes

So if you feel your time is worth less than $14 an hour, drive slower because your making money, but if you feel your time is worth more than $14 an hour, go ahead a drive 70, as long as that is not above the posted limit.

Your also assuming that you will increase 5 MPG by slowing down just 10 MPH. A lot of that is determined by the engine and gear ratios of your transmission and axle.

The car I use for most of my longer trips had a sticker on the window when we bought it that said 18 city and 26 highway. I drive these longer trips all on highway and average 25 MPG at 70-75 MPH. I'm not slowing down to gain 1 MPG unless the laws change.

The sticker on my Toyota Avalon says 29 MPG highway, yet we are getting 42.4 MPG going 65 MPH instead of 79 MPH. The sticker in the window isn't maximum fuel savings, or mine would say 42.4 MPG. Those numbers on the sticker are supposed to be average, not optimum.

 

[Passepartout]

I have to correct you.

600 miles at 60 MPH is 10 hours.
600 miles at 70 MPH is 8 hours 34 minutes

Your also assuming that you will increase 5 MPG by slowing down just 10 MPH. A lot of that is determined by the engine and gear ratios of your transmission and axle.

I stand corrected, I will certainly concede that my math was faulty in computing trip times, but the basic result is the same: you save fuel, money, wear-and-tear, tickets by slowing down.

While there may be differences between vehicles, owing more to aerodynamics than gearing, the reality is that it takes more fuel to go faster. Real world tests will show that above 60mph, the fuel economy will drop off pretty close to 1 mile per gallon per mile per hour of speed. Try it.

In the end, what we are discussing here is like arguing over deck chairs on the Titanic. There is a finite quantity of a natural resource and when it's gone, it's gone. Some say it's half gone now and we've only been using petroleum for about 150 years. We can keep using it as fast as possible so that we get our share before all those people in the former third world get it, and hope for hydrogen (or some other) alternatives to fall like manna from heaven. Or we can work on alternatives while we conserve what we have to make it last longer. After all, it may not be our own kids who come up with the solutions, but their kids or grandkids. You can bet it will be within the next very few generations.

OK, soap box mode: off.

Jim Ricks

 

[laura1957]

I stand corrected, I will certainly concede that my math was faulty in computing trip times, but the basic result is the same: you save fuel, money, wear-and-tear, tickets by slowing down.

While there may be differences between vehicles, owing more to aerodynamics than gearing, the reality is that it takes more fuel to go faster. Real world tests will show that above 60mph, the fuel economy will drop off pretty close to 1 mile per gallon per mile per hour of speed. Try it.

Jim Ricks

Without any actual numbers to back it up I do agree. I can see the difference with my Honda minivan - if I drive it to our closest "big" town to go shopping the gas gauge barely moves off full, when my husband uses it for the same trip - he uses over 1/8 tank. I set my cruise control to 55, he tends to drive 65 or a little over. (and is heavier on the brakes/gas at lights)

 

[Transit]

My commute to work ride 80-90 miles per gal

 

[Steamboat Bill]

My commute to work ride 80-90 miles per gal

Yes it is economical....but what about the Florida RAIN and let's not forget about all the BAD Florida drivers and a motorcycle/scooter is much more dangerous than a car. What about groceries?

 

[easyrider]

We get 10mpg with our extended cab 4x4 silverado and 12mpg with our suv. Both of these can pull our cruiser and other toys at the legal speed limit. Lets see you do that with a Prius.

We did witness a motorcycle accident resulting in the death of an eye doctor caused by some older guy not going the speed limit to probably save gas. Not keeping up with the flow of traffic or driving below posted limits can be very dangerous and should be considered reckless driving if an accident results.

 

[Dave M]

Not keeping up with the flow of traffic ... can be very dangerous and should be considered reckless driving if an accident results.

Are you serious? You believe I should be arrested for reckless driving unless I break the law by speeding, perhaps significantly over the speed limit, to keep up with others on the highway? Interesting thought, but I hope it wouldn't happen!

 

[Passepartout]

We get 10mpg with our extended cab 4x4 silverado and 12mpg with our suv. Both of these can pull our cruiser and other toys at the legal speed limit. Lets see you do that with a Prius.

It seems we've wandered a bit from the point of the thread, but if you wanna play 'mine's bigger'n yours', my Freightliner gets 7mpg and can pull 105,500 (gvw) at posted speed limit. Lets see you do that with both or yours!

Jim Ricks

 

[easyrider]

Are you serious? You believe I should be arrested for reckless driving unless I break the law by speeding, perhaps significantly over the speed limit, to keep up with others on the highway? Interesting thought, but I hope it wouldn't happen!

Yes, very serious. I pulled the guy off a barbed wire fence and he died right in front of us. This was a direct result of the slower speed of the vehicle in front of the rest of us impeding the flow of traffic.

Should the flow of traffic exceed the speed limit a person should do the speed limit at the very least. Driving 10 miles below the speed limit on a two lane highway to save gas is fine if no one is behind you but very inconsiderate if there is. Should your slow driving make my legal driving hazardous and cause an accident that results in death, you should be charged with manslaughter or at least reckless driving.

 

[easyrider]

It seems we've wandered a bit from the point of the thread, but if you wanna play 'mine's bigger'n yours', my Freightliner gets 7mpg and can pull 105,500 (gvw) at posted speed limit. Lets see you do that with both or yours!

Jim Ricks

Sorry for spouting off about mpg and pulling power, but can you park your truck in the garage like I can ? lol .

 

[swift]

Sometimes this is true. For instance merging on HWY 101 at 45-50 miles per hour like some older people do is very dangerous!

California law regarding reckless driving -
(a) Any person who drives any vehicle upon a highway in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.

(c) Persons convicted of the offense of reckless driving shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than five days nor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than one hundred forty-five dollars ($145) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, except as provided in Section 23104. Amended Sec. 19, Ch. 739, Stats. 2001. Effective January 1, 2002.

Reckless Driving: Bodily Injury Vehicle Code 23104

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), whenever reckless driving of a vehicle proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver, the person driving the vehicle shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than two hundred twenty dollars ($220) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment.

 

[Dave M]

I absolutely agree that driving well below the speed limit can be dangerous. At least in Massachusetts, it's well documented that drivers have been pulled over and ticketed for going significantly below the speed limit. But easyrider's language suggested that I should be charged with reckless driving or manslaughter if, for example, there is a bad accident and the general flow of traffic is going 75mph and I'm going exactly the posted speed limit of 55mph.

I find it hard to believe that any jurisdiction would charge me with reckless driving (or worse, manslaughter as he suggested) for obeying the law at the posted speed limit! It seems to me that the lawbreakers should be the ones that are held accountable.

 

[Passepartout]

.......Should your slow driving make my legal driving hazardous and cause an accident that results in death, you should be charged with manslaughter or at least reckless driving.

You are certainly welcome to your opinion, and I don't condone obstructing traffic, and happily move out of the way when I am the offender (generally because of load and grade). If a rear-end collision occurs, 99 times out of a hundred, if a citation is issued, it's to the hitter, not the hitee. The faster, overtaking vehicle has the responsibility to see and avoid slower traffic.

You may also notice that speed limits are generally the upper limit, while the lower limit is controlled by statute- 45mpg on interstates and 35 mph on secondary roads in most places.

Jim Ricks

 

["Roger"]

We get 10mpg with our extended cab 4x4 silverado and 12mpg with our suv. Both of these can pull our cruiser and other toys at the legal speed limit. Lets see you do that with a Prius....

Wow!!

Let me see. I drive 12,000 miles per year in the Prius. If I had your Silverado, that would be 1200 gallons of gas. At $4 per gallon, that would cost me $4800. I am averaging 50 mpg with my Prius, so I would be using 240 gallons instead at a total cost of $960.

I haven't even started to factor in lower insurance costs, particularly if you insure your toys, lower depreciation, etc., but I can already say that $3800 will buy me a lot of nights in a luxury hotel room (or finance a trip to Europe).

I do appreciate that you seen to enjoy lugging your toys, but the Prius is a fun car to drive, whips into smaller parking places with ease, etc. I am not suffering.

To each his own, but your post made me feel really good about Prius ownership.

 

[easyrider]

Where did I post for you to become an outlaw driver ? Its too bad if your both offended by my statements because they were not meant to be abrasive.

I did not realize that there was a slow limit as it is not posted on any roadway I have traveled and I think most of the general public uses the speed limit signage as the rule of the road.

 

[Transit]

Yes it is economical....but what about the Florida RAIN and let's not forget about all the BAD Florida drivers and a motorcycle/scooter is much more dangerous than a car. What about groceries?

I only use the scooter for work 5 miles a day round trip and quick trips to the store. On the weekends I run up to A1A and cruise the beaches sometimes. When it rains heavy I leave it at work and get a ride home from a co-worker that lives nearby and pick it up later.I usually plan for rain and in 2 years only got caught one time. I don't fell unsafe driving it I usually stick to secondary roads.The scariest thing is those Parkland moms with their 5 ton Hummers flyng past me, cell phone to ear, putting on makeup..Under the seat is a storage space that fits a full face helmet .There is a storage rack on the back and bag hooks by the front seat you can carry alot of stuff if you choose to do so.I agree that South florida is a dangerous place to drive but in other areas scooters can provide real economical transportation. Motorcycles are fun but are to costly maintanance wise unless your a doityourselfer.

 

[Kal]

...I drive 12,000 miles per year in the Prius. If I had your Silverado, that would be 1200 gallons of gas. At $4 per gallon, that would cost me $4800. I am averaging 50 mpg with my Prius, so I would be using 240 gallons instead at a total cost of $960...

BINGO, 240 gallons of gas versus 1200 gallons of gas! When we're talking about energy conservation and the related effect of driving up gas prices, BIG is definitely NOT BETTER.

 

["Roger"]

Only remotely relavant, but I just saw this on Yahoo (cut down immensely - hopefully this passage is short enough to be fair use) ...

The truth is more CEOs surveyed drive ordinary passenger cars and SUVs than luxury cars; in fact, those who drive Chevys outnumber those in Mercedes. And while most respondents think CEOs spend more than $70,000 on their cars, the average price CEOs in this study payed for their primary vehicle is under $25,000. One-in-four (26 percent) CEOs surveyed reported they spent less than $20,000 on their primary vehicle.