A government report indicated that gasoline consumption in the U.S. was down about 5% last month from a year ago.
Case in point:
I have three vehicles: a Ford F-150 4×4 pick up, a Toyota Camry hybrid, and a Toyota 4-Runner (V8). Both the truck and the SUV use egregious amount of gasoline. But in my efforts to go “green” I have been conducting a little experiment for the past month. I wanted to see how much gas I could save by just driving the speed limit.
Normally, I drive 5 – 10 mph over the speed limit. I also bust out of the blocks like Kyle Petty (not gay Jeff Gordon). Driving this way has cost me beaucoup bucks over the years, including the speeding tickets.
For example, my Camry hybrid, which I bought last July, is rated at 40 mpg. On the days that I have to commute to the office, I have to drive about 45 miles through mountainous terrain, up and down hills. It normally takes about an hour. Low and behold, by simply going the speed limit and coasting downhill, I’m now averaging 46 mpg. That’s a 15% increase in fuel efficiency. That is also the equivalent of a 15% reduction in consumption.
The 4-Runner is even better. Here is a vehicle that gets me 20 mpg on a good day, with a tail-wind. Normally, in my wasteful short-sightedness, I’m accustomed to driving “banshee from hell”-style. But since I’ve reformed my ways, driving the speed limit and coasting downhill in neutral (yes, you can do that), I’m getting 25 mpg—- in a V8 SUV, no less! Do the math. Thats 25% more efficiency, or a 25% reduction in consumption.
(We won’t discuss the pickup since it doesn’t get driven except during hunting season or hauling my three dogs to the lake.)
Think about it. At what point does Joey Gas Guzzling Americano start to change his driving habits? $4 gas? $5 gas? $6 gas?
I’ll tell you. He’s already changing. He’s driving slow, like an old man, and saving money. In fact, I guess I’m driving like an old man too. Here we all are on the morning commute, driving in the right lane like a procession to an AARP Convention. No more assholes blowing by you in the BMW going 95 mph. No sir, they’re all getting dirty looks and getting cut off.
So, the conclusion of the matter is this: if people across this great land would simply drive more conservatively and go the speed limit. Gas prices would come down. Demand for oil would slacken. People would be able to buy that flat screen HD TV, or LULU yoga tights. Whatever.
Also, consider this: If people didn’t take it upon themselves to slowdown, all the government would have to do is decrease the speed limit by 5 – 10 mph on the highways, and the problem of high gas prices would be solved. But, then again, that’s just too simple a solution.
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