Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.
Posted on 07/04/2008 10:36:57 AM PDT by ellery
Influential Republican senator, John Warner of Virginia, suggested on Thursday that Congress consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline.
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to investigate what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. Warner said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.
In 1974, Congress set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.
As motorists headed on trips for this Fourth of July weekend, gasoline averaged $4.10 a gallon nationwide with oil hovering around $145 a barrel.
Warner cited studies that showed the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption, while avoiding up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year.
Warner asked the department to determine at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient, how much fuel savings would be achieved, and whether it would be reasonable to assume there would be a reduction in prices at the pump if the speed limit were lowered.
disgusted ping...
It was stupid last time and it would be stupid again this time.
Not this shit again!
I used to call myself a republican, looks like I’ll never be able to again.
This is very exciting. I can just about get up to 55 by the time I get where I’m going. I am not usually in that kind of hurry though.
I wonder which “Republican” senator will introduce a bill that suggests we all curl into the fetal position.
Time for this fool to retire.
Did he vote for the repeal in 1995?
blow it out your tail pipe...
Congress critters confront every problem by punishing the people through either taxation or regulation. Is it any wonder I despise all 535 of them?
Forgot to say it in previous post, happy Independence Day!
One would have thought that being wiped out in the midterm 2006 Congressional elections or Bush having an approval rating of 23% would have taught a lesson on big govt GOP stupidity. Guess we’ll have to wait for the coming annihilation of GOP 2008 officeholders for them to return to their small govt roots.
No, the speed limits are too low .
This is actually a good idea. We should get this data, then make a decision about what to do with it. I seems unlikely to me that 55 is the optimum.
A perfect example of no one in DC having any idea what to do.
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed freepmail me or post a message here.
Time for meds and to take your nap Sleepy Eye’d Johnny then you can play Democrat Senator some more. How many more years will he serve? Even one more year is one too many.
It’s John Warner, he no m,ore represents the Republican Party than Lincoln Chafee or Lowell Weicker.
Warner has reached his “sell by” date and been moved to the bargain bin.
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