70max.com - Go green, save gas and save lives
What would happen if everybody obeyed the speed limit? A group in the U.K. would like to find out, assuming that there is no speed limit higher than 70 miles per hour (which, of course there is. Another topic for another story). Their website claims, and has data to back it up, that deaths would drop, emissions would drop and gas mileage would increase. And, by substantial amounts, too. I am well aware that not everybody would be willing to abide by this particular speed. I have been known to break it from time to time myself (a gross understatement? Not that I am admitting to :-). But, what about you individually? Are you willing to commit to never breaking 70 miles per hour? If so, click here and check into joining. You'll get a very stylish sticker to proudly display your intentions.
[Source: Treehugger]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ralph 11:09PM (4/06/2007)
A sticker may motivate a few people, but the biggest incentive to reducing speed will come with higher gas prices as people try to stretch their tank of gas further. I've been experimenting for the last month with a 10mph decrease from my habitual 80+ to 70 MPH (95% mostly level freeway driving for 25 miles). In a 3,400 lb., 3.2L V6 I went from an average of 24.5 to nearly 28 mpg with just this decrease in average speed. If I pay attention and set the manual transmission in Neutral whenever going down a steep enough incline to maintain freeway speeds I can increase this to just over 29 mph (Note: Using the Neutral setting in an automatic like this is not recommended, I believe). An 18% increase in gas mileage. If we all ever go back to a 55 MPH freeway limit we would save a bundle of gas, but 55 is too slow IMO.
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dwarsco 10:44AM (4/07/2007)
if less people die, there will be more drivers adding to the pollution
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MikeW 5:01PM (4/09/2007)
If you put a manual transmission in Neutral, you are using more gas.
In overrun, above a preset engine speed~1000rpm, no fuel is injected. There should be minimal drag if your engine has some form a exhaust gas recirculation (external or internal) and your gearing isn't absurdly short. The outgoing M3 could use something taller than 25mph per 1,000 rpm, too short.
The 2000 Acura TL also has a 3.2 liter engine, and Honda has top gear set for 35mph / 1K. Too tall to be useful for anything other than just maintaining you highway speed.
Yesterday, I drove the back leg of highway travel. My dad drove 70mph, and I drove 80mph, yet I beat him by 10%. The 2gr-fe is pretty nice.
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