Ika MakimakiWe are now in the middle of "Oops"
Diane Hallinen@pezmico I wish, in the USA, we could start talking about a national 55 mph speed limit. And shut down a few pipelines.
Bret Towe
Gatekeeper..Plus the lives that would be saved...Speed kills
Stygian Lizard@pezmico @shadyspotlight For long road trips 55 mph adds a measurable time. For most commutes it is a minute or two. What else will cut gas use by ~17%? EV buy in will take a decade. We don’t have a decade. EVs go a lot further on a charge at 55 mph. Coal still make. electricity
Drew MilroyYes to 55 mph nation(s) wide. I’ve driven across US, round tip, at 55mph 3 times in past 10 years.
6 reasons for 55 mph limit.
1. Tires. Any tire starts to hydroplane on wet roads at 55mph. Less heat stress on older or under inflated tires.
2. Dry? CA has 55 mph limit whenever towing something. It’s just safer.
3. 55 is more fuel efficient. Drag increases exponentially compared to velocity. A little bit faster is a lot less efficient.
4. You likely aren’t tailgating the vehicle in front of you.
5. You have more time to safely react to anything that happens.
6. 1-5 allow you to reduce mental & physical stress & enjoy the trip more.
Traffic? Passers gonna pass. Some people just follow for miles when they could pass.
55 mph traffic backs up pretty quickly on busy highways. Some impatient people drive recklessly. In those cases 55 may not save lives. So I speed up a bit for awhile or pull over.
Some states require slower vehicles to pull over when 5+ are held up.
P.S. Train travel is a good option. Amtrak must be part of our rapid drawdown of fossil fuels. Plutocrats don’t like Amtrak so their politicians don’t either. So US Congress must be made* to make it better.
Good: I’ve crossed the US on Amtrak 5 times in 5 years. Coach seats are do-able & pretty inexpensive. Roomettes or rooms are nicer experience but can be very expensive. Book early if possible.
2 ways to make it better:
1. Expand auto-train coverage. People could travel across the country with their car. But without the time, effort, wear & tear (nanoplastics from tires) & Carbon Emissions. Expenses may well be favorable.
2. Expand baggage capacity. Open unused spaces on double deckers and provide baggage cars to other trains connecting across the country. Ex: depart from Boston to CHI: no baggage car. It joins the train from NYC with a baggage car, in Albany, but you can’t use it.
*Strike & only buy essentials if Congress won't take timely climate actions.