To save fuel, a return to 55 mph -- or a four-day workweek?

Lower speed limits? How stupid are people? I've mainly spent my time driving around cities of the northeast, but in my experience, I waste WAY more fuel stuck in ever increasing traffic jams, stopped at ever increasing numbers of traffic lights, or waiting at ever increasing numbers of intersections that have added "no right on red" signs, etc... What would improve fuel usage would be working to IMPROVE traffic flow, and improving traffic efficiency (public mass transportation), not finding yet another way to clog up the system. All that artificially low speed limits do is give police an excuse to pull over anyone at any time harass them. If people want to save the cost of fuel, they have the choice to slow down RIGHT NOW and drive the minimum limit, or use slower local roads instead of highways. But if their time is worth a lot to them, they can trade that time for a more expensive trip. Let them.

Yes....dropping speed limits is way overdue! In fact...I believe that governments should go further with an imposed electronic speed limiter of MAX speed 55 mph on ALL vehicles. The time is NOW! The nation would save gas....individuals would save money....we would save lives...improve our lifestyle(slow down life a bit)....and help reduce global warming.

Speed limit redection? Imagine if the police cared enough to enforce the current limits? They've given up with the anarchy that rules the roads. Unless you're going at least 15 MPH above the limit they do nothing. Drivers feel very safe in their new vehicles with all of the safety improvements plus you can go 80 MPH and not even realize it. Do you think drivers of company-owned vehicles are cutting back? How many people sit in line at the gas station with their vehicles running? Do you see any drive-throughs at fast food and donut shops closing because people are actually getting out of their vehicles and WALKING into the store? How about shutting off most of the lights in office buildings on weekends and overnights? Do you leave the lights on in your house all night? What about converting (at least some) street lights to solar? How about setting intersection signals in small towns to blinking after 9:00 pm? When even some of these events occur THEN we'll know we're in an energy crisis.

People can't even drive the speed limit when its 65, the only thing this will do is increase speeding tickets

Mandatory speed reduction to 55 was wildly unpopular last time and will be so again. Most Interstate drivers don't even want to stick to 65 mph. Cost seems to be the only restraint to gas usage. US citizens would rather send money to oil producing countries than invest in energy conservation technology and practices here at home.

Well, it was inevitable that some nitwit in government would, once again, try to impose a top-down non-solution to an important problem.
Just as with gun control, hunting and the previous attempt at this very thing, people in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming have to add 30-45 mins to regular trips every day because the furthest this genius ever drove was 25 miles in a day.

Why do urban/suburban people always have to impose National bans on everything? If these are problems in certain states, impose state solutions in those places. What ever happened to the Republic?

4 day work week and if the government is SERIOUS about this issue (which is 99% caused by SPECULATION), they need to fix the problem, go after the speculators and start digging for our own oil.

Our interstate highways were designed to accommodate traffic flowing at 70 MPH, before the days of crumple zones, seatbelt laws, ABS, stability control and airbags. Speed limits should be set accordingly. All a 55 MPH speed limit would do is frustrate people who are trying to get somewhere and provide additional revenue for insurance companies and towns from speeding tickets.

Other first-world countries have 70 MPH limits and people just drive small, fuel-efficient cars -- so they can get somewhere in a reasonable amount of time and also save money on gas.

urban/surburban impose national bans on everything because that's where the majority lies, duh. Police have given up on enforcement of current driving laws, if they were followed traffic would flow better, and we would save gas. Or people could just be civil and use common sense, but that will never happen. I've been gone from getting 27 miles per gallon to 30 simply by not going over 65 on the highway. And for those folks who want to drill all over our country, did your folks let you turn up the heat at home if you were cold but wearing shorts and a t-shirt? Hell no, conservation first, then go for new supplies, but bear in mind they go on the free market, no guarantee they will even go to us, this isn't Venezuela after all

Does the lack of foresight by the big 3 automakers in this country leave anyone else wondering if this whole thing is intentional? Are we honestly supposed to believe that nobody thought a fuel efficient car would sell? Where are the electrics & plug in Hybrids..We should be expecting at least 50 mpg out of every car we make, and shooting for 100 mpg. The technology exists already, so what do you think is holding it up? Combine fuel efficiency with a 4 day work week, and reduction in traffic lights and you would be saving 75% of our fuel costs as opposed to 2%. Lets get serious.

i've been driving for 13 years and never had a moving accident and try to drive very safely. with that in mind i feel it is HIGHLY UNSAFE to driver UNDER 70 miles an hour when traffic is flowing smoothly with moderate volumes on highways around boston. i would prefer if there was a combination of posted speed limits and enforcement that actually made it possible to drive anywhere between 55 MPH and 70 MPH, at the driver's preference, SAFELY.

Anyone who wants to drive slower is free to do so. Imposing gov't regulations is hopelessly ineffective and undesirable. Let the markets do their job. If gas is expensive, people will change their habits when the cost/benefit balance changes for them. At the same time, we should eliminate tolls wherever possible as the collection system is a terrible waste of time, money, and gasoline. Replace the revenue with additional gas taxes, and the savings generated by elimination toll collection expenses can be plowed into providing better mass transportation for those reducing their driving miles. Honestly, it is not that difficult. If politicians were willing to actually LEAD on issues we could resolve this problem in 6 to 12 months.

While we're at it, let's bring back Mike Dukakis - he set the speed limit at 50 on Mass expressways during an energy crisis when he was governor.

A hybrid driving at 75 will burn much less gas than an SUV going 55. We need incentives to get people into smaller cars - that will do much more for gas consumption than an unenforceable and inflexible national speed limit.

We already have a powerful incentive to get people into smaller cars -- $4+/gallon gas.

High energy prices have (and will) likely have more effect on increasing energy efficiency measures than any pile of governmental regulations ever will. CAFE was an abysmal failure, and come this winter it will probably be well nigh impossible to find the products that have existed for quite literally years to make your home more energy efficient.

If 55 is good, why not 45? And if 45 is good, why not 35. How about 25? What is the magic with 55? The Interstate system was designed for 70. The turns are banked for 70. Today's cars are geared for 70. Where did the idea come from that 55 was better? Yes, the fanatics pulled some numbers out of their rears 35 years ago that supposedly PROVED cars were more efficient and that 55 would save lives. The real studies that put the lie to these claims have been universally ignored.

Fact, the 55 mph speed limit played a large part in the move from a mostly traffic law abiding society that we had in the 60s to the mostly traffic scofflaw society we have on the roads today. Fact, I get 31mpg at 75. At 55 I would have to downshift from 6th to 5th meaning I would use MORE gas. Fact, the safety of a highway depends largely on the speed difference between vehicles rather than the absolute speed of those vehicles. If speed alone caused accidents then the German Autobahn and Indianapolis 500 would both be deathtraps.

And, BTW, preventing government employees from driving government vehicles will save gas how? Will government employees ride bicycles to work if they can't drive a government car?

There are so many better and cost effective ways to save fuel, some mentioned above. Another no-brainer would be to call or write Ted Kennedy to tell him that it's more important to the entire state of MA that we make a dent in the 25% (source: DOE) of power generation we get from oil by replacing it with wind than it is for him and his rich neighbors to have a view out their windows without windmills.

I don't like local speed limits being set by the federal government ... and I have a better idea; why not promote energy conservation by speeding-up travel on interstate *railways* instead? Instead of dictating how people drive on energy-inefficient automobile roadways why not improve our far-more energy-efficient railways? A 55-mph highway is intolerably slow but I'm pretty sure that is about the fastest speed allowed on the "high-speed" Amtrak train line in Connecticut. Actually, I think near New York the interstate railway is about 45-mph slow. Why not focus on allowing higher-speed rail travel to save energy by giving travelers a good alternative to energy-wasting auto travel? Instead of closing-off bad options (speeding in a car), why not create a better one (higher-speed rail)?

Ted Kennedy and Al Gore are hippocrits. "Not in my backyard" Kennedy will tell the people to drive 55 and to put up windmills but he won't. Al Gore will make a fortune on Global Warming while continuing to use 20 times the electricity of the average family. He continues to fly in private jets and limos. He laughs all the way to the bank while the fools try to save energy.

well John, duh.
I didn't question HOW these national bans got imposed, but why. try reading next time.
Why does everyone in the country have to suffer when only a few urban ======= continue to foul their own nests?

For the record, born and brought up in a big Eastern City

Smells like pork. I bet there's a speed limit sign manufacturer in Warner's district.

Guess it's easier than developing an energy policy.

The most important component of energy policy -- ending immigration -- is always ignored.

Since the gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, I experimented by driving my 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid at the posted speed limits, and my mpg actually exceeded the EPA posted mpg of 37 mpg. I regularly average 42/45 mpg. Not too bad for a 3.0 liter vehicle with 263HP! This Honda was made in Honda's Sayama plant in Japan and the quality/workmanship is noteworthy. This vehicle shuts down three cylinders and has a real-time mpg indicator. At 55 mph the indicator on a flat road indicates 80 mpg! Unfortunately, Honda will not produce the Accord Hybrid after 2007. There apparently was not much demand for a Honda Accord that was not much difference in appearance with over a $10,000 price differential. But the Hybrid has superb navigation system, an outstanding stereo system, heated leather seats, heated mirrors, xexon headlights, and is loaded. It is equipped with the Acura steering system which is like a sportscar.

Puhleez--we don't need to revisit the national nightmare that was the last federally mandated 55mph speed limit. The answer is more efficient cars. Why not mandate that to the automakers instead of imposing idiotic artificial constraints on the public.

Look, I'm all for conserving energy, but it's time we face this energy crisis with solutions that will free us from our dependence on fossil fuel. The time to develop alternative and renewable energy sources was 20 years ago when oil was cheap. Unfortunately, unlike many other countries, we are reactive rather than proactive. So now we are faced with $140 a barrel oil and $4 gas and suddenly everyone is concerned.

Again, I'm all for conservation, but the last thing we need is for energy prices to drop. All that will do will cause us to become complacent again. That's exactly what happened over the last 30 years. During the 1970's oil crisis, fuel standards increased drastically for automobiles. Then, fuel prices dropped and we forgot about the days of expensive energy and started manufacturing SUV's will low mileage and started living 40 miles from work. Now people are dumping their SUV's and trying to dump their homes, because it's suddenly the 1970's all over again.

It's time to invest seriously in alternative and renewable energy and forget about hoping that oil drops back to $60 and gas back to $2 a gallon. It is not going to happen, not with with our governments continually debasement of the dollar and surging demand from the rest of the world. Conservation is great, but let's solve the real problem, our dependence on fossil fuels.

I think it is a great idea. It worked quite well in 1974 and then after a few years it was not properly enforced. Driving 55mph could save vast amounts of fuel and dollars. If you don't like the idea then maybe you should advocate for no speed limits at all, while your at it get rid of stop signs and traffic lights on city streets, and why not get rid of license plates as well?!

The 55 mph speed limit is a good idea to save fuel. Likewise, fuel and tax payer cost can be reduced if all State governments went to a four day work week and/or allowed many state employees to work from home. Setting public building thermostats at 78 in the summer and 68 in the winter would cut energy costs in government budgets which would reduce taxpayer expenses. Businesses should be encouraged to save energy by reducing outside lighting after business hours.

Reducing demand will reduce prices, which is what the above will do.

Reduce your speed voluntarily, please. I cannot believe the irresponsible drivers that whiz by me at 80 mph. If everyone voluntarily limits highway speed to 60 mph, we would use much less gas, oil prices would drop a bit, things could be near normal, not spiralinbg out of control like now. This is just the beginning... our economy cannot handle people spending all their disposable income on energy and groceries. Repeat: voluntarily reduce your speed - be more responsible citizens.

In the "Land of the Free and the home of the Brave", there should not be any speed limits other than (un)common sense! If we as a nation want to tackle the energy issue, then it is simple. Just turn the government machine back on like we did during our World Wars and REQUIRE manufacturers to defend this nation. We did it before, requiring machine shops and auto manufacturers to supply the war effort. Now is the time (actually long overdue) to REQUIRE manufacturers to build cars/powerplants/equipment that runs off of locally (American) made fuel! I don't really care if Exxon/Mobil or some other energy company develops and markets the technology, just do it!!

P.S. I heard recently that in March of 08, Americans drove 12 Billion miles less (yes 12 "B"illion) than they did in 07. Also, in April 08, Americans drove 14 Billion miles less (yes 14 "B"illion) than they did in the same month the year before. Why is the demand (or at least use) going down and the cost going up? Don't try to blame it on the Chinese or India, that's just too much spin. After all, everyone on the planet agrees the United States is the greatest consumer of oil.

I get 33-36 miles per gallon at 55, 65, and 75... it doesn't really change. It certainly doesn't change enough to add an extra half an hour each way to my commutes. I live in the middle of nowhere, 55 was miserable 20 years ago, it will be miserable again... The way I look at it, it's not my fault that people like my parents drive some gas guzzling beast that gets 9 mpg at 55 and 8 mpg at 70. Why should those who get 30, 40, 50+ miles per gallon be "punished" for those whom are less than economical? A 4 lane highway is FINALLY going to be in this area later this year... I do not want to be tooling along at a miserable 55... in fact, I'll probably ditch the car and get a motorcycle if speed returns to that meager pace.

Great idea. While youre at it, set limits on how and what people eat, that way yoou would slim down the american public. Lets do something about school drop outs, jail anyone under 18 who does not attend school and send everyone older than 75 to a "check-out" land to reduce the social security problem. You are already one of those folks sending young men to die in Iraq to insure we have an oil crises.Keep up the good work, you wouldnt get elected in Georgia

A republican should know better! We need less government in out lives, not more. With less government we would be drilling more of our own resources. Anyway, people are slowing down anyway. I set my cruise control at the speed limit and I'm constantly having to pass people now.

I currently have a 5-speed Ford Tempo. It gets 47 MPG at 78 MPH. It gets 32 MPG at 60 MPH. Everything under 78 MPH gets worse gas mileage. I had an AMC Pacer; it had it's best gas mileage at 70 MPH. I had a Fiat 128; it had it's best gas mileage at 58 MPH.
Most modern cars probably get their best gas mileage somewhere in the 60 to 80 MPH range.
During the time the 55 MPH speed limit was in place, serious accidents were reduced, fuel consumption per hour was decreased, but fuel consumption per trip was increased (i.e., MPG).
If we could have more people in Congress who passed 8th grade math, less of this junk legislation would be considered.

55 mile hour limit worked last time to bring down the price of gas. This time it would work even better to wring the speculation out of the price of oil. Withing one month of passage, the price of oil would drop $40 (imho). You watch, just the threat of Warner's idea will cause the price of oil to top out here.

55 mh speed limit - it was bad policy in the '70s and '80s, it still bad policy today. I am in favor instead is a 4 day work week with an added benefit of a 3 day weekend - more time to enjoy leisure pursuits. Als flex time should be encourage where the commute times are more spread, therefore help on congestion.

Also, to help on energy cost in offices, casual dressing should be encouraged where you dress for comfort instead of fashion. Get rid of uncomfortable suits, long sleeve shirts and ties.

The added labor costs to business paying for employees being on the road 28% longer is far above the savings in gas. That added expense will ultimately result in increased prices of all goods and services.
55MPH will be very detrimental to the economy. Yes, many vehicles do get up to 27% better gas mileage at 55 MPH as compared to 75 MPH. However you are also driving 28% slower at 55 MPH. A 100 mile trip takes all most 30 minutes longer at 55MPH as compared to 75MPH.
For the sake of discussion, let's use the following parameters for a 100 mile trip: A car that gets 25 MPG would get 31.75 MPG at 55 MPH (27%) - Gas at $4.00 per gallon - Employee labor cost of $15 per hour.
Driving at 75MPH will take 80 minutes and cost a total of $36.00 in gas and labor costs
( use 4 gallons of gas at a cost of $16.00 and the labor cost would be $20 (1.3 hours x $15/hour))
Driving at 55MPH will take over 109 minutes and cost a total of $39.87 in gas and labor costs
( use 3.15 gallons of gas at a cost of $12.60 and the labor cost would be $27.27 (1.8 hours x $15/hour))
THAT’S AN 11% INCREASE IN COSTS BY SLOWING DOWN TO 55MPH. The burden labor rate for many service industries is actually $25 to $ 35 and more and therefore the problem is even worse.
The saving lives argument has also be very exaggerated. The chances of being involved in an accident on the highway increase the longer you are actually exposed to the risk. In other words, if you are on the highway an additional 30 minutes per day, your exposure to potential risk has been increase 30 more minutes. Being on the road longer also greatly increases driver fatigue. Driving while sleepy is as dangerous as driving drunk.
The claims that the National Highway death toll went down around 1974 due to the 55 MPH limit imposed after the 1973 Oil crisis has often been disputed. It has been suggested that this drop was actually due to new enforcement of seat belt laws and people driving less because of high gas prices.
As a business owner of a service industry, the interference by the Federal Government to make me inefficient will cost me thousands of dollars. Those who want to drive at 55 are more than welcome to drive 55. Just don't make everyone else along with the economy slow down with you!

Giving tax breaks for employers who keep their employees to a three or four-day workweek would be great, or a system of tax breaks for those who do, tax penalties for those who don't. Utah starts it with just their goverment workers and look at the results, imagine if most employers did it. Most stores, instead of two shifts, could cut that to one long shift, and at three or four days week. Manufacturing jobs could do 12 hour shifts, 3 day weeks. Imagine that, almost HALF the number of people driving to work, which I'm pretty sure is the main source of driving in the US.

You Rep's think that you have all the Answers.
People drive live now, 15, 20 30 mpg. what is the point.
Fact, it is not cheeper to live way out. it waste gas. and we must build more Freeway Lands. also, we don't have decent Public Transit.
Cut, cut, cut Transit, then People are forced to drive.
Todays young People that never personally experience 55 mpg have no clue how it was enforced, and when caught Speeding, it went on your Driving Record for 5 years, and your Insurance sky Rocket. well, we don't have enough Cops enforcing the Speed Limit as it is. when a Speeder is caught for going say 5-10 over. the fine should be a Federal Mandate $250. the 1st Ticket. $500 for the 2nd Ticket, and $1,500 for the 3rd Ticket. however, if one has 3 Tickets in one 12 month period. then one may not drive for 6 months, the 1st time, then 1 year the 2nd time and 5 years the 3rd time. one must find other ways getting to work. also. raise the Insurance Rate $500 for the 1st Ticket, $1,000 for the 2nd Ticket and then $3,000 for the 3rd Ticket if the Insurance feels like having you as their Customer. also, if an Accident with Speeding, then the Insurance would Double.
The Best Advise. Obey the Traffic Laws and Behave when behind the wheel.
Bad Attitude driving may cause a bad Accident.
and last. not every car Performs well above 70 m.p.h.
Yes. I am for 55 m.p.h. but, still enforce it to 65 outside City Limits.
Cops may permit 5 over. therefore, no more then 70 on rural Interstate
if caught going 6 over, the look out Speeding Ticket.

55 MPH REP. how out rage is that? People are force to drive.
Cut, cut, cut on Mass Transportation. we don't have decent Transit anywhere anymore. how about Auto Makers making cars with better Milage?
However, what is the point their? People do not have the money to keep buying new cars, cause of better Milage. 55 mph is in-shane on the Interstate
However, when the speed limit is 65 such as cheep WI, and IL why is that no enforced? or is it enforce when going 5 over?
Also, speeding in cities and running red lights is very dangerous. not stopping at cross walks and perming People to cross the street when it is required to stop when seeing People trying to cross the Street.