How serious are we about conserving gas? Enhance some speeding fines

[Newsjock]

Last time there was an "energy crisis" in this nation, the speed limit dropped to 55 mph for years on end. Thanks to advances in vehicle and road design, that's no longer an appropriate option to save fuel in the current "energy crisis" (even if it's a manufactured crisis).

However, we need to alter the American mind-set to a point where excessive speeding is considered anti-social, wasteful, and downright un-American. Now, before you get your panties in a wad, I'm not talking about the person who drives 38 mph in a 35 mph zone, or even 62 mph in a 55 mph zone. We all know that many speed limits are set too low. But out on the open freeway, most states have finally raised their speed limits to something close to reasonable -- at least 65 mph almost everywhere, 70 mph in many places, and 75 mph in others. Yet, some drivers continue to fly down the road at 80, 85, even 90 mph -- cutting perhaps five or six minutes off their trips, but getting vastly lower gas mileage and endangering other drivers along the way.

The cost of excessive speeding and its associated waste of gasoline should be high enough to deter such behavior, and to cover the costs of patrolling and administration.

Back in the days of the 55 mph speed limit, many states -- particularly in the West -- circumvented the limit by making the fine a special "energy waster" fine of only $5 or $10. Let's bring back the "energy waster" fine, but let's give it some teeth this time. States could consider laws that read something like this:

On a limited-access highway with a posted speed limit of at least 65 mph, a driver who is convicted of exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph or more shall pay an additional energy-use penalty of $50 for each mile per hour in excess of the posted limit. This penalty will expire six months after the day it is signed into law unless extended by the Legislature.

The speed limit is 75 mph and you get nabbed for 90? That's a $750 penalty. (Don't like the specific numbers? They're open to debate. Focus on the idea, not the numbers.)

I can hear the outcry already. Nanny state! Freedom to drive! But these are serious times. Whether you believe we're at Peak Oil or whether you believe that gas prices are simply being manipulated to line Dick Cheney's fat wallet, the reality is that gas prices have us all over a barrel, and we need to do what we can to reduce usage.

Wasting gas is still largely socially acceptable in America -- and, no matter what lies ahead, that needs to change. Let's hear other ideas for changing this mind-set.

[eallen]

1. Why go after the penny ante stuff? Let's ban residential air conditioning.

Sure, make exceptions for those over 65, and those who suffer some medical condition requiring it. But for the normal, healthy person, air-conditioning is purely a luxury, and it burns a lot those precious BTUs we import. Scrap the compressor, open the windows, and if that's not enough, turn on a fan.

:evilgrin:

[MercutioATC]

3. Ummm...no, and no.

I'm not in favor of forced personal restrictions to conserve energy (whether they be traffic laws designed solely to decrease energy use or restrictions on creature comforts).

Want to conserve energy? Great. I think the market will take care of that without enacting another raft of restrictive laws.

[tammywammy]

5. No thanks

When it's 90+ outside (100 yesterday and around that again today) I don't want to forgo the AC. And I get all the evening sun since my apartment faces the west and it gets freaking hot in there. And I do have fans, going 24/7.

If I lived in a place where it only got in the 80s, then I'd forgo the AC, but not here. And I keep the AC set no lower than 78 when I'm home.

[Squatch]

7. You don't live in the Southeast US, do you?

[eallen]

17. See, I want all the johnny-come-latelies to leave the gulf coast.

It's all a matter of accommodation. 'Course, it's easier if you're raised in the climate, at a time and place where not all your abodes had air conditioning.

:evilgrin:

[Mr_Spock]

8. The A/C in the car also wastes as much or more fuel than speeding

...and it's used by a much larger percentatge of drivers than speeding.

Let's prohibit the use of air conditioning in vehicles...

[HereSince1628]

2. How many DU'ers with cars have checked their tire pressure?

I wonder at what gas price people start taking things like tire pressure, stop and go driving, and highway speed into consideration?

All those things we boomers learned in the oil crisis of '74 would be good to dust off.

[xultar]

4. I think we should ban on than more stop to the grocery store a week.

[MadHound]

6. I agree with what you say

But I still think that dropping the speed limit down to 55mph would be a good thing. Not only would it save gas, but it would save lives also.

[Horse with no Name]

12. I think dropping the speed limit is a good idea as well

And asking for specific voluntary conservation measures just as Jimmy Carter did.
Gas rationing, although unpopular, would also be another way to start.

[Beelzebud]

9. Why is every solution just another way to screw over the average worker?

[Orsino]

15. Partly because the average workers are consuming the vast majority...

...of a finite resouce.

But the idea galls me, too.

[riona]

10. What I object to

is going into restaurants, movie theaters, and stores where the temperature is kept on frigid. Nothing like going out into the heat to thaw.

[spag68]

11. Saving energy

is a bigger problem then cars. A bigger bite could be taken out of our energy use if the gov. would allow a tax rebate to pay for solar panels for anyone who who will install them. Total costs would be less then one year in Iraq and would provide many jobs. the end result would be millions of watts taken offline from the polluters in the power plant business, and less of all the bad side affects of burning hydrocarbons.

[4_TN_TITANS]

13. There already are tax incentives available

but probably not enough to really encourage people. Solar has a significant start up cost.

[Orsino]

14. A $750 fine for speeding...

...amounts to a license for the very rich.

[catmandu57]

16. Just because the speed limit is 70mph

Doesn't mean you have to drive 70 or faster, it's the upper limit, that's all. My old car loves 65, and that's good enough for me. If everyone would do a self enforcement we wouldn't need massive thumps from the law enforcement stick.
i do notice though that when gas price goes up people slow down.