A cost-effective way of reducing emissions: You say MPH, I say KPH
This one's a bit comical. We're all aware that reducing your speed while driving leads to fuel savings and reduced emissions, but no one in their right mind in Washington is going to suggest we lower speed limits. That's apparently not so in Britain. Auto Express is reporting that last week, while the Members of the British Parliament were discussing climate change, Nia Griffith, a Labour Party MP (Member of Parliament), suggested an extremely cost-effective way of reducing the speed limit on all roads. She said they should simply change the meaning of the country's speed limit signs from miles per hour to kilometers per hour. This would slash speed limits by about five-eights without having to replace a single sign or post.
Auto Express didn't speculate as to whether Griffith's suggestion would turn into a bill and passed into law (or whatever legal terminology they use across the pond), but she did apparently get some support from the Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone.
[Source: Auto Express]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Glenn 8:34AM (10/19/2006)
I have lived in the UK and the socialists (i.e. Labour and also Liberal parties, and oh hell, let's be totally honest, even the so-called Conservative party) have been trying to get the proletariat back into busses and trains for decades.
Just like the communists countries of old and now (like North Korea), those "comrades" who are "more equal" than others get limousines and jets, while the working slobs get bicycles and busses if they are lucky.
If passed, 70km/hr on British motorways would be so ridiculously low, that I think the Brits might actually gain a spine and go lynch all MP's and put in a new crew.
Or maybe you think 43.75 mph is a great motorway speed for limited access roads, and 18.75 mph is fine for in-town? Hell, my Sonata V6 can barely even GO 19 mph or less.
Ironically, virtually all cars get far worse mileage in 19 mph than they do at 30. But then, this is a typical knee-jerk liberal minded reaction to a problem which exists only in their (little) minds, so what would one expect?
God save us all from moronic legislatures and governments....
Remember, you get the government you deserve.
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Tony Belding 9:35AM (10/19/2006)
I still wince when I recall the long period of America's 55 MPH national speed limit; it was the butt of much laughter from Brits and Europeans. Believe me, you do *not* want to go there.
I think a better answer would be to put efficiency computers in most new cars -- similar to what you find in a Prius. It gives the driver a very direct visual feedback showing how much energy they are using and how their driving style affects their fuel efficiency. Then it will be up to the drivers to decide how concerned they are with saving money on fuel, and I think many of them will choose to drive slower.
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Derrick Y. Noh 9:58AM (10/19/2006)
I like your thinking, Tony, and it seems as though the concept may take hold at some point in the near future. A little while ago, Mike posted about Toyota offering their Eco Drive Indicator light on auto-tranny models in Japan...
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/10/02/toyota-introduces-eco-drive-indicator-light-on-japanese-models/
And it looks like the Brits may get it too...
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/203160/toyota_auris.html
Speaking of which, whatever happened to the MPG gauge that used to sit right beneath the speedo in Bimmers? I remember it used to be questionable as to just how accurate they were, but like the Eco Drive Indicator light, it's a great concept.
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Jimmy 10:51AM (10/19/2006)
#3 "Speaking of which, whatever happened to the MPG gauge that used to sit right beneath the speedo in Bimmers?"
The instant MPG gauge is still there on the 3-series, and the trip computer offers a resettable avg mpg as well. Checking the indicator and using a manual gearbox many report 30+ mpg on the hwy from a sport sedan. The 7-series has the instant MPG gauge via a dot matrix display. The X3 SAV does not have the instant gauge. I'm not sure about the 5-series. The instant feedback of a gauge is far better than a "shift" or "eco" light.
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Karkus 11:17AM (10/19/2006)
Reducing speed saves gas only at highway speeds. Most cars are most efficient around roughly 50 MPH (81 kph), so lowering highway speed limits is always a good thing. However, by the same measure, that would be a bad thing in town.
(Note: For Toyota hybirds the optimum speed is in the 30-40 MPH range, since the engine can be completely off (not even turning) when cruising or slowing down at the those speeds)
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MikeW 11:23AM (10/20/2006)
I always use the Honda insight because the numbers are so round.
100mpg@50mph
75mpg@75
50mpg@100.
The best is slowest, but the best per time is a realistic speed, 75mph.
Most cars will not operate with partial torque converter clutch slip at 19mph, but will at 30mph.
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