Posted on 07/26/2008 10:17:58 AM PDT by Entrepreneur
Liberals say Iraq is another Vietnam; conservatives say Barack Obama is Jimmy Carter redux. ABBA's a mega-hit and Elton John's going to be performing at Madison Square Garden. Had enough of these '70s flashbacks? Brace yourself for another: the return of the national speed limit, courtesy of one of the country's most venerable politicians.
Senator John Warner (R-VA) elected in 1978 recently expressed interest in the idea of a national speed limit to conserve gasoline. Warner, who is not running for re-election this year, wrote to U.S. Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman, asking "at what speed is the typical vehicle traveling on America's highways today most fuel efficient?"
Warner told TIME his concern is for "the many millions and millions [of Americans] of limited means, sitting around their kitchen table trying to figure out how to make ends meet." Unlike long-term alternative energy sources, Warner says, a speed limit would work to bring down gas prices immediately. "Maybe some guy's got a better idea," he says. "But I haven't seen it."
The National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 mph was created in 1974, when Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Energy Highway Conservation Act. Prior to that, states had been free to set their own speed limits, but the new law threatened to strip Federal highway funding from any state straying above the national standard. The ostensible purpose of this limit was to keep down gas prices, which had been driven through the roof by an OPEC embargo touched off by the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. And with gas-prices once again sky-high, Warner isn't alone in talking up a cap on speeding.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
The worst thing about CBs back in the 70s was we lived about 1 mile from the interstate. The broadcasts would interfere with our TV reception and scramble the signal while I was watching cartoons.
Well, I am sure there is a scientific way to do it, but I drove my TR7 at various speeds on long distant runs and recorded the gas miliage. Always does best at 70 as long as it is tuned up. I have an old VW bug that does best at about 65, altho truth to tell it doesn’t vary much at higher speeds either.
During World War II, there was both gasoline rationing and a national 35 mph speed limit. Of course, other than a few parkways in New York, a few freeways in California, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, there were no high speed limited access highways in America.
There was no federal odd-even rule. Associations of gas station owners invented and applied the rule, and so did a few states, but not all.
Gas rationing coupons were printed in 1976 but were never distributed because the federal government was not prepared to take that step in an election year.
The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 repealed the national 55 mph speed limit. It went into effect on January 1, 1996. The Gingrich Congress passed it and Clinton signed it after making a loud protest.
What happened in 1986 was different. Congress passed a law permitting the 55 mph limit to be raised at the states' discretion to 65 mph if the area in which the highway ran was classified as "rural" according to certain formulae based on census tracts. A number of states still retain this formula (Washington, Oregon, California) even though the federal law that created it was repealed in 1995.
I remember using the tachometer in my 4-speed Pinto to calculate the top speed - it was just over 100, barely.
You got that right. I just set the cruise on 84 and rock on. And I still get passed from time to time.
Naturally, good wife that I am, I inquired of Mr. RightField, "When did THAT happen?"
He answered sweetly, "When you were napping, dear. Now go back to sleep."
WWII gas rationing and the speed limit were intended to save rubber rather than fuel. Once the Japs took over Malaysia, much of our rubber supply was cut off.
YEAH ! What YOU said !
Wow, a TR7?
“The shape of things to come.”
I remember being torn between a TR7, TR6, MGB, and and MGC. I ended up with an MGB, pre-plastic bumper, with wire wheels, in British racing green.
I loved that car.
Have you noticed if the grade of gas makes a difference?. Just started recording gas mileage and I think that the grade of gas (octane) is making a difference.
As far as I can tell, if your car is tuned to run on the lowest octane, and most newer cars are, they will not really get better mileage on the higher octanes,usually you are just spending more money.
One correction to that. If you are comparing 10 percent ethanol to straight gas then you will get better mileage on the straight gas.
I find myself (usually) driving at what ever speed traffic is moving. On my morning commutes, this works out to 80 mph or faster in many cases.
When there’s no traffic, I generally move at the speed limit, though when I’m on my Ducati, I have to keep an eye on the speedometer, since a “comforable” speed on my Duck is about 85 mph on the highway.
Mark
George Carlin had names for these sorts of drivers: For people driving slower than you, "Idiots!" For people driving faster than you, "Maniacs!"
Mark
>>It’s Carter’s only chance to avoid going down in history as the worst U.S. president ever.
If I can make that fit, that’s my new tagline.
Thanks for the replies. My car is not a new one but do not want to get rid of it. Has been the best car ever and believe me I have driven some good ones. (94 LS400)
Tagline change.
Tagline edit.
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