Thread: 55 MPH rearing it UGLY head again?

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There was a lot of debate over whether it really saved any fuel. Thinking from an aerodynamic point it would seem that more energy would be needed to break the air, so it's theoretically conceivable. How much though from 55 to say 65 is probably a small amount to measure, especially on modern computer controlled cars with overdrive that are more efficient at highway speeds.

The other canard they used to sell that idea was "55 saves lives". Traffic fatalities have been falling fairly steadily since the last 55 edict was killed. Statistics "should" kill that "saves lives" argument, but then............we are dealing in logic there instead of politicseese. The lowering of traffic deaths is more likely due to a combination of measures; airbags, better designed cars, enforcement of seatbelt useage and stronger enforcement of nailing drunk drivers. A little more hypothetically would be less of a differential in speed from one vehicle to another. My recollection is that when "most" folks were doing 55 you still had those who wanted to do the "old" limit. They ended up doing a lot of weaving in an out. That still happens today at higher speeds, but seems less to me............but then I don't drive 20-30k miles a year like I used to either.