Senator asks if nation's drivers should slow down

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Senator asks if nation's drivers should slow down Friday, July 04, 2008
The Associated Press -- WASHINGTON (AP) — An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit. Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
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	Friday, July 04, 2008 The Associated Press -- WASHINGTON (AP) — An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit. Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon. Visit The Associated Press for full article

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jeep12TX Rookie Author Dallas Posts:7 Points:5,990 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 7/11/2008 1:45:34 PM	Ignore jeep12TX Report Abuse
	Most Senator are driven around on a government car anyway They don't worry about speed limits!
magnumCA All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:879 Points:184,350 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 7/6/2008 12:57:39 AM	Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
	useless
vic168 Champion Author New York Posts:2,174 Points:413,505 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 10:37:09 PM	Ignore vic168 Report Abuse
	people will drive as fast as they want,no matter what the speed limit is
Gee_NY Sophomore Author Texas Posts:126 Points:193,090 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 10:30:51 PM	Ignore Gee_NY Report Abuse
	Dropping the speed limit won't help.
blazerbob91 All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:796 Points:325,005 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 4:56:56 PM	Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse
	The feds should keep their hands out of speed limits. They dictate to much and are always slow to act.
2timer Rookie Author Austin Posts:13 Points:35,835 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 1:58:14 PM	Ignore 2timer Report Abuse
	I like the studies they often cite while leaving the details out. They showed that slowing the speed limit to 55 saved the country an average of just... wait for it he an entire whopping 1% average of fuel (there were some years it was higher but they dont tell you that at the time most people were driving less at the same time due to the oil crisis and not wanting to get stuck somewhere that might not have gas... wait it gets better. It cost just over a billion hours per year. Withe more drivers now that total would almost certainly be much higher. Evidence showing that it saved lives is suspect due to other mandates such as the seat belt laws which was later shown to to have been the biggest contribution to saving lives as well as people traveling less on weekends which statistically is when more accidents occur. Many more studies show that areas where speed limits change, entrace and exit points and slower drivers showed greater numbers of accidents. Plus I believe that we should have less fed involvement in our lives not more. Any speed limits should be set by the States without coercion of the feds.
magnumCA All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:879 Points:184,350 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 10:03:48 AM	Ignore magnumCA Report Abuse
	good luck
00Max00 Rookie Author Allentown Posts:7 Points:2,790 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:49:16 AM	Ignore 00Max00 Report Abuse
	PaulieFL, stop using all caps. If you always drive under the speed limit, please move over to the right, or I hope you are getting fined $1k for blocking normal traffic flow, damaging social harmony, causing road rage... After all, congested highway wastes more gas...
barodacop Rookie Author Michigan Posts:1 Points:40,310 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:41:06 AM	Ignore barodacop Report Abuse
	Reducing the speed limit to 55 on the interstates did not influence the price of oil in the 70's. The speed was too slow and no one drove that speed. In Michigan during that time, they had what was called an "energy" speed ticket. If you went 56-70 mph, you could get a ticket that had no points on your driving record. You did not receive any points until you violated the old law of 70mph. That law accomplished nothing. Michigan just changed their laws that raised the minimum speed on an interstate to 50 mph and raised the speed limit for trucks to 60 mph because SLOW vehicles were a problem, too. Going back to 55 mph will not make any difference in the price of oil when China and other countries are wanting more. The government knew the day was coming when this would happen. Instead of giving out billions in foreign aid, maybe they should have used this money to give research grants for alternative fuels.
stmrunner07 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:7 Points:12,250 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:17:54 AM	Ignore stmrunner07 Report Abuse
	I agree but right now they are limiting the traders which are only the ones that provide liquidity to the markets. I think that no essential commodity should be able to be traded without the investor being required to take delivery on the product.
CrazyQ Champion Author Washington Posts:11,893 Points:1,376,575 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:16:47 AM	Ignore CrazyQ Report Abuse
	Sen. John Warner is a RINO. He needs to be voted out of office.
mrkel Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,363 Points:730,930 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:15:46 AM	Ignore mrkel Report Abuse
	Work on alternatives and make it harder for speculators to push the price of oil artificially higher...
stmrunner07 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:7 Points:12,250 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:14:34 AM	Ignore stmrunner07 Report Abuse
	You said it man
TBLGYN Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:223 Points:727,855 Joined:Apr 2001	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:13:42 AM	Ignore TBLGYN Report Abuse
	PaulieFL: Have a drink and calm down!
stmrunner07 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:7 Points:12,250 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:13:13 AM	Ignore stmrunner07 Report Abuse
	You know those studies don't matter when the goal here is to lower gas prices which is why we are all reading this. I know it cuts demand and saves lives. But the price is no longer based on fundamental supply and demand. More money goes into the oil market every day and causes higher oil prices. These prices will eventually be the solution because it gets us working on alternatives. Your solution of slowing down being the only thing makes the problem worse it slows the flow of ideas for alternatives
EarlyMoose Champion Author Seattle Posts:1,515 Points:624,815 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:10:53 AM	Ignore EarlyMoose Report Abuse
	I've noticed people slowing down already. We don't need big bro ordering us to.
stmrunner07 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:7 Points:12,250 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:06:42 AM	Ignore stmrunner07 Report Abuse
	So what is your answer besides slowing down or even staying at home.
phoenix22 All-Star Author Grand Rapids Posts:970 Points:679,350 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:05:41 AM	Ignore phoenix22 Report Abuse
	if she's on the free way.....God, help her.......btw........95% of u.s. crude comes from canada........and i don' t buy mobil or marathon.... ...........* 5th SF Grp, "De Oppresso Liber" (We Liberate the Oppressed!), 101st Abn Div. (AirAssault), 160th Avn Grp, "Night Stalkers/Phoenix Flight, SOG, "Rendezvous With Destiny!" For Buddy...who lived it! Whiskey for my men and beer for my horses! H.A.L.O!, "Death From Above, Shut Up and Jump, Mess with the Best, Die Like the Rest!", VFW(al), ALegion(al), v4v-mi.org (co-chair, founder). [Edited by: phoenix22 at 7/5/2008 11:09:18 AM EST]
stmrunner07 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:7 Points:12,250 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:03:05 AM	Ignore stmrunner07 Report Abuse
	PaulieFL When we slow down it slows the economy down and innovation down. We are a country addicted to oil however by slowing down cutting flights and conserving in those ways we limit solutions to the problem. The pain we face at the pump is not because of supply and demand reasons because there is more than enough oil right now. Gasoline demand in the United States is at multi-year lows even without a new speed limit. Also the last time the speed limit was posted gasoline prices continued to go through the roof until 1982 eight years after it was imposed the real solution is to spend more money on finding alternatives
Zacchaeus Rookie Author Missouri Posts:96 Points:976,095 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:00:45 AM	Ignore Zacchaeus Report Abuse
	Yes, slow down.
phoenix22 All-Star Author Grand Rapids Posts:970 Points:679,350 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 8:00:19 AM	Ignore phoenix22 Report Abuse
	ya, great! welcome back to the unite socialist states of north america...... you ever here of freedom? i get 32mpg at 80..........a little less at a hundred........i say build an autobahn........and older thinking folks w/ a pc..........sell your car, truck, golf cart.....what have you...........and what say you? I fought for this country, i lost body parts for this country, i'm terminally ill..........so as long as i'm kickin' i'll drive fast and turn left!
Wolfwings All-Star Author Delaware Posts:574 Points:203,115 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:59:36 AM	Ignore Wolfwings Report Abuse
	It didn't work the last time. If we do not learn from history, we are bound to make the same mistakes again and again.
stmrunner07 Rookie Author Illinois Posts:7 Points:12,250 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:57:44 AM	Ignore stmrunner07 Report Abuse
	PaulieFL
rustyOR Veteran Author Oregon Posts:484 Points:106,700 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:56:48 AM	Ignore rustyOR Report Abuse
	Have to do better than this.
Greatace Veteran Author Tampa Posts:335 Points:274,855 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:54:27 AM	Ignore Greatace Report Abuse
	They want to do everything except come up with alternative fuels
TBLGYN Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:223 Points:727,855 Joined:Apr 2001	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:51:14 AM	Ignore TBLGYN Report Abuse
	Gas is higher in Germany and they have no speed limits on the Autobahn. Warner is a RINO and should not be reelected.
Masercal Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,081 Points:259,685 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:51:13 AM	Ignore Masercal Report Abuse
	Lower speed limits are only part of the solution. Renewable energy and the infrastructure to support it is the major part of the solution.
WonderfulMI All-Star Author Michigan Posts:989 Points:79,820 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:50:28 AM	Ignore WonderfulMI Report Abuse
	From the speeds some of you are claiming to drive, you have no respect for the law. You indicate that you have no respect for a proposed new law, and that you will violate that also. I believe that we would have all the gasoline that we need if these people who refuse to follow the law were permanently removed from the road.
357revo Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:6,100 Points:687,590 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:46:45 AM	Ignore 357revo Report Abuse
	The drop in U.S. demand over the past year [290,000 less barrels per day] was associated with a $1.29 per gallon increase in the price of gasoline. That happened because demand in the rest of the world increased by 1,290,000 bbl/day. Although we in the U.S. use a lot of oil, it is only 24% of the world usage. Conclusion 1: The U.S. is not capable of reducing oil consumption enough to reduce the price of oil, because world consumption increases will continute to push up the demand, and the price. Corollary 1: Even if a national speed limit did reduce U.S. usage [and that conclusion is in doubt], it wouldn't result in lower gas prices at the pump. Lower mandated highway speeds will increase traffic density, increase congestion, increase transport times for truckers. Conclusion 2: The cost of doing business will increase because of the time wasted by travelling slower, despite the theoretical savings in the amount and cost of gasoline used. Corollary 2: Our economy will suffer and ordinary drivers will be inconvenienced without any significant benefit.
acrider54 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:10,330 Points:1,803,755 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:44:29 AM	Ignore acrider54 Report Abuse
	NO no
nd73 Veteran Author Grand Rapids Posts:338 Points:214,620 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:42:56 AM	Ignore nd73 Report Abuse
	Well, let's not stop there. Let's legislate that you can only drive a max. of 100 miles a day. And every 10th person has to give up their car and use public transportation. After all, we are doing this for the nation's good! These are not actions of a free land! This is socialism, and there are plenty of socialists in Congress who would love to get the ball rolling (including 2 Democrats who were recently vying to be a candidate for the Presidency!). Are you sure you want to start down this road????
oncotime Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:8,861 Points:1,572,445 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:42:53 AM	Ignore oncotime Report Abuse
	that would make too much sense.
n3his Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,513 Points:834,185 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:40:39 AM	Ignore n3his Report Abuse
	I have slowed down. Next step for me is stop.
Cuzilla Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,606 Points:927,995 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:40:16 AM	Ignore Cuzilla Report Abuse
	FORWARD to the 1970's!!!
Somis1 Champion Author Ventura Posts:4,439 Points:986,115 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:39:08 AM	Ignore Somis1 Report Abuse
	I'd be a lot happier with 65.......
dopster Veteran Author Toledo Posts:412 Points:814,730 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:33:58 AM	Ignore dopster Report Abuse
	I've slowed down to posted speed limits and it has worked for me. So has anticipating stop lights and no jackrabbit starts. Also use cruise control whenever I can. It's increased my economy about 20%. '97 Intrepid.
Outie All-Star Author New Brunswick Posts:758 Points:455,100 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:25:34 AM	Ignore Outie Report Abuse
	They should slow down but on their own imposing lower speed limits will not work.
RWPTraveller All-Star Author Virginia Posts:515 Points:300,175 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:25:13 AM	Ignore RWPTraveller Report Abuse
	Don't worry, laddyboy62, he is not running for re-election
mars48 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:5,224 Points:1,015,915 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:24:28 AM	Ignore mars48 Report Abuse
	You don't have to do hypermiling, just slow down and you can increase your gas mileage 20 to 25%.
laddyboy62 Champion Author Riverside Posts:1,155 Points:910,260 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:20:56 AM	Ignore laddyboy62 Report Abuse
	how about we slow him down...and vote his butt out
leolisa Champion Author New York Posts:3,915 Points:713,030 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:20:02 AM	Ignore leolisa Report Abuse
	already 55 mph here..how much slower will we have to go..we will get killed on the highways here if it's lowered
budbkind Rookie Author Virginia Beach Posts:8 Points:9,085 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:18:59 AM	Ignore budbkind Report Abuse
	If everyone went the posted speed limit it would help.
deanjk Veteran Author Arkansas Posts:286 Points:82,935 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:18:28 AM	Ignore deanjk Report Abuse
	He's probably right.
waltjax All-Star Author Illinois Posts:585 Points:811,985 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:16:03 AM	Ignore waltjax Report Abuse
	AlaRedNeck I sure hope you are never in a position of authority. Didn't yesterday and what it stands for mean anything to you. If you think you can FORCE the American people to do as you please, you will have another revolution on your hands. Its because of people like you that we the people have a constitutional RIGHT to "keep and bear arms"
lethal3pilot Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,116 Points:312,975 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:10:53 AM	Ignore lethal3pilot Report Abuse
	They can try - I don't think it'll work.
ptchrome Champion Author Long Island Posts:5,361 Points:1,065,830 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:06:50 AM	Ignore ptchrome Report Abuse
	cut the politicans salaries in half seeing most only work part time
fratt Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,227 Points:941,825 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:06:24 AM	Ignore fratt Report Abuse
	They can ask but it won't happen.
00Max00 Rookie Author Allentown Posts:7 Points:2,790 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:04:40 AM	Ignore 00Max00 Report Abuse
	Stupid politicians. If the speed limit is really that important, how about all vehicles to be limited to 65 mph maximum speed and fire all state troopers.
AlaRedNeck All-Star Author Kansas Posts:741 Points:127,775 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:04:34 AM	Ignore AlaRedNeck Report Abuse
	I'd agree totally with a 55 or 60 mph speed limit. Force everyone, including those who don't seem to have a problem with $4+ a gallon gas, to conserve. If everyone isn't involved, conservation isn't going to work. I hate to see people FORCED into doing something, but if we are going to make any real progress extreme measures have to be taken.
courier400 Champion Author Kansas Posts:6,409 Points:1,510,185 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: 7/5/2008 7:03:14 AM	Ignore courier400 Report Abuse
	might work for some, and me , but should not be for everyone.