Don't do it!

Did we learn nothing from the 1970's? These types of 'rent controls' don't work. In fact, restricting travel will only add to congestion, which will increase drive times, which leads to more pollution and lower fuel mileage. Those that want to voluntarily drive slower could and should. If there are those that want to drive 75 MPH and pay the penalty of lower fuel standards, more fuel consumed, let them do it.

Laws are usually imposed to help people that are to stupid to see the need themselves. How is placing a speed limit going to increase commute time? I've never gone anywhere close to 55 mph during rush hour in SLC.
I think speeds on our rural highways are out of control. No non-professional driver can safely drive at 80 mph plus while tending kids and talking on the cell phone, yet I see it being done all the time. What's more important, a couple of minutes on an hour long drive, or saving fuel and lives?

If we're really concerned about fuel consumption, before we think about changing speed limits why don't we enforce the laws we already have. Few drive 65, and we've all probably seen those who are 85 and even 95. Or we could all voluntarily slow down to the limit ourselves and see an almost immediate improvement in fuel economy.

A speed limit of 55 or 60 will save gas, lives, and reduce pollution. The 1970's were spearheaded by the trucking industry to raise speed limits to cut labor costs on truck drivers and not better fuel mileage. Now the same industry has admitted that these same trucks are driving slower to conserve fuel usage by the big rigs. The cost of fuel has exceeded the cost of labor and now they are singing a different tune. All vehicle gas mileage ratings are based on a speed of 55mph, not 75 mph. Time is not the gas saver, it's aerodymanics (vehicle drag), engine RPM, and driver habits. If you have driven in a head wind you feel the effects of drag and the need to increase foot pressure on the gas peddle to maintain your speed. The electrical amenities in vehicles also ad to the loss of fuel mileage as the alternators providing power increases output and eng load with the need for more fuel. All engine loads are fuel dependent to maintain them and designed engine operation. Driving slower also offers more time and more distance between an emergency incident and driver reaction, thus injuries and property damage decreases.

what???? ask us the consumer to do something to help with the problem. or just let the ones who want to pay the penalty of 85 drive up use, thus the price for all the others, not to mention tailgating, crowding and endangering the responsible drivers. with so many trucks driving such much slower it is getting to be a game of ping pong, we need more speed parity.
this is not a bad idea, only make the speed 65.

Fuel costs and speed limits are NOT interconnected. As seen during the "contrived" shortage in the seventies.Once the cost was raised to the maximum that could be extracted from the average user, The price stabilized and fuel flowed freely.
History repeats itself over and over and we never seem to learn.
Again fuel prices are rising to the maximum the customer will bear, Not because there is a shortage,in fact there is an excess. Once the price stabilizes, it will NEVER go back down no matter if we are swimming in fuel. This is simply business.
You will pay and pay and just ask for a raise to ofset cost and the cycle continues. Modern cars with computer controlled systems do not depend on speed to get fuel mileage. They can be set up to squeeze a gallon for maximum BUT you would not be very happy with performance.
In the end, is all a matter of profit and who gets it.

What a imperious presumption it is to try and force people to drive in a way that will save them money.

The speed limit should be determined solely on the basis of maximizing the safe driving conditions on that stretch of road in balance with maximizing the purpose of having the road in the first place. That is, it allow people to travel from one place to another.

Any person who is driving is, presumably, either directly or indirectly responsible for the cost of driving their vehicle. If they want to pay more to drive faster then it is THEIR CHOICE to do so.

This is one area where I wish we would take a tip from the Europeans. They have been paying MUCH more than we have for gasoline for YEARS. Yet they have some of the most liberal speed limits around. I hope Sen. Warner will consider that before he continues his campaign to nanny us.

If we decree 55 the speed limit, it will save lives, injuries and fuel; but there is a better, more effective way.

God calls for one day of no work for anyone. That would save a minimum of 1/7th the use of fuel. Businesses would be closed; people would stay home with family building better family relationships, reducing stress for a healthier life and saving money on fuel.

2 Nephi 29 says God's message is the same to all people. The 7th day Sabbath is written in stone, part of Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:8-11 and commanded not to be changed Deuteronomy 4:2. The Qur'an says to follow Torah and Gospel. Any changes in Sabbath were error in understanding the revelation to the prophets. All the blessings of God are tied to belief in His word including the 7th day Sabbath. Jesus said, follow EVERY word of God.

Restoring God's written word as law comes before Christ returns in bodily form to this earth. Tell your government and religious leaders, candidates, media and friends you want to fight the oil crisis this way first. Pray, if they won't listen, God will raise up a leader to promote His written word.

What a brilliant proposal from an equally brilliant legislator, "Hey guys instead of coming up with a real solution lets just impose more useless laws that people aren't going to follow anyway." We cannot keep putting these morons in positions of power and influence and stand as a country!

How about RAISING the speed limit to say 95 then the usual "go over by 15" crowd will dutifully follow their logic in eliminating themselves and others from the consuming masses. We will see great fuel savings as vehicle after vehicle is permanently removed from the roads, as well as those driving them. Clean up the roads, save fuel, weed out the gene pool all in one fell swoop. Genius!

A narrow view gives the idea this 55 thing would reduce fuel use; but it overlooks the design of vehicle power trains.

On the open road, the road has slight up and down grades; but 55 does not save gas. I tried it and my 2007 SUV and engine revs are higher going up small rises at 55 than going the same way at 65.

At 55 the car's momentum doesn't mitigate the hill caused reduction; to maintain 55 it downshifts. A 33 mile trip at 55 my MPG is 17.9 and at 65 it's 18.1; same road and direction.

The freeway fuel use is about 22.5 gallon at 80 and 22.8 at 70 in the same direction over the same strip of highway.

I can only surmise that cars of recent vintage were designed to get the best fuel use at the present speed limits and any changes result in little savings, if any.

We can only pray the media will be fair in this and present all sides of the arguments; otherwise it will be another media created public opinion that may not be good for us all.

one could assume that indiviuals should make choices and the goverment be less intrusive. thats what 1000's of brave men and women have given their lives for.

How many more freedoms are going to be stripped?
With that being said, I believe the 55 speed limit,
while an imposition, did in fact save gas.
I wish they would look at what OIL SPECULATORS
are doing to the price of gas.

Passing that law again might reduce fuel consumption, but anything saved here will be lost in China and India due to their increased demands.

Lowering the speed will do nothing for the price of fuel. China will buy what ever we save. They have all of our money and control the price we pay. They are buying up our companys, land and real estate. We have given our future away for cheap goods rather than pay our own people a living wage. Our money has lost so much value the price will continue to go up.