Want to really cut into the oil companies profits?

[canoeist52]

This ain't much but every little bit helps!
Forget the boycotts and no gas days. This actually uses less gas!

Slow Down a Little, Save a Lot of Gas

by Peter Valdes-Dapena
Tuesday, April 1, 2008

“Speeding on the highway adds a surprising amount to your fuel costs.
With gas prices rising, gas-saving advice abounds: Drive more gently, don't carry extra stuff in your trunk, combine your shopping trips.
This is all sound advice but there's one driving tip that will probably save you more gas than all the others, especially if you spend a lot of time on the highway: Slow down.
In a typical family sedan, every 10 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like the price of gasoline going up about 54 cents a gallon. That figure will be even higher for less fuel-efficient vehicles that go fewer miles on a gallon to start with.”

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/104752/Slo...

I always thought the repeal of the 55 mph was politically motivated

[Donnachaidh]

1. Heh -- where the speed limit is marked 55 here, the COPS blow past at 80!

And they don't even blink at people doing 75! I think we'd save a ton of money if people would JUST do the speed limit in Georgia. :shrug:

[Richard D]

2. False logic . . .

. . . though a good idea for green's sake. Less gas gets bought, prices go up. Bottom line for big oil continues to get bigger.

[drmeow]

4. Theory of supply/demand

As demand goes down and supply stays the same, prices go down. Initially this probably would have the effect of lowering prices as it would take a while for oil companies to slow down production more to match the new reduced demand. The opposite is part of the reason that gas prices tend to go up in the summer - demand is higher but supply stays the same (other contributing factor is additives).

Regardless - this would save people money even if prices stay high.

[Richard D]

9. Doesn't supply and demand . . .

. . . only work in a competitive market? Somehow I don't see the world of oil as being particularly competitive.

[drmeow]

10. Actually it is competative

because people (theoretically) have the option of doing exactly the sort of thing described in the OP. Technically taking the bus, car pooling, driving the speed limit, etc, can be thought of as alternatives to oil from an economic sense. Choosing not to buy is part of the competitive market. Instead of buying brand x (oil), I am buying brand y (riding my bike to work, walking to work, taking the bus - which here in Tempe are electric). While there is still a demand for oil, the demand has dropped. It is not as competitive as, say, restaurants (an industry that has a part of the same premise - if dining out is too expensive, people stop dining out which should lower the cost of dining out as restaurants try to lure diners in - you can't stop eating but you can change your eating).

Now, this does presume that the oil companies will retain production at the rate that they have been ... but even if they do, reducing production will take a while. Because the use of oil fluctuates significantly from day to day/month to month/year to year, it will be hard for them to tell if this is a market trend or not. But if a gas station orders a shipment of gas from the supplier on the assumption that they will run out of gas by x date and not enough people have purchased gas in order for them to refill their tanks, the refined gas that was prepared for that order has to be sold to make room for the batch that is being refined now. Thus the oil companies will be motivated to lower the price or they will have to shut down the plant or fill up their trucks and leave them full.

[Richard D]

11. Thank you.

for the clear explanation.

[AndyTiedye]

3. I'd Rather Do 80…

…on a train! We need some high-speed rail around here!

[drmeow]

5. During the oil crisis

in the 70's people actually drove the speed limit.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. In some places, maybe

But I remember reading about two guys in Michigan who decided to test that theory by driving at the speed limit side-by-side on a local Interstate, and ended up having a huge line of cars (and no doubt lots of angry drivers) behind them.

[ixion]

6. speeding is a symptom of a high-stress culture

if you want to reduce the number of speeders, reduce the amount of time-based constraints in our culture.

For example: if you work in an office and are forced to a) drive there every day rather than telecommute; and b) get there promptly by 9:00 am, you are going to be forced to speed to keep your job.

Sure, there are examples of people speeding "just for kicks", but the vast majority of speeders do so because of time constraints placed on them via cultural mores, like punctuality.

[Texano78704]

8. Does that include...

Speeding to the park and ride? I hope not, otherwise I will be driving in every day.

[DemocratInSoCal]

7. But If I Slow Down, I Won't Get To The Red Light Fast Enough

I have begun to wave at the SUV's, MONSTER TRUCKS, & Hummers, as they SPEED past me on the local streets, ever eager to make it to the red light ahead.

They tailgate, and act like they're going to run me over, before swerving around me, and speeding up, just so they can get to the red light faster.

God, I can't wait for gas prices to hit $5.00/gallon. I hope those gas guzzlers get sucked dry.

[Quantess]

13. That gets on my nerves.

People burn up all their gas getting to the red light. I just drive slow if the light is red up ahead, and then the numbskulls falsely assume that I'll be driving that slow the whole way. They switch lanes, only to have me pass them when the light turns green. :evilgrin:

[Captain Angry]

14. I drive a hybrid...

And one way to stretch that gas tank and go electric more frequently is to drive the speed limit, on cruise control.

I am passed constantly, on every road I take. What I don't get is why people don't just pass me on the double yellow. I mean, if they can justify speeding, why not passing illegally? They'll tailgate and weave, but they won't pass. Very strange mentality.

I take back roads since the interstate is 75 (which means 85-90). The back roads are 45-55, which keeps the engine at or under 2000 rpm, and my mileage goes through the roof. I got 47 mpg in a 4WD SUV during one trip (hybrid, but still).