🚀 go-pugleaf

karl@thuja.gsfc.nasa.gov (Karl A. Anderson) writes:
> The last time this issue came up in this group, I asked the proponents 
> of higher speed limits for references to support their claims that, 
> for example, cars are more fuel efficient at 65 mph than at 55 mph, or 
> that highway accident rates are not a function of speed.  By references,
> I mean results of well-designed, controlled studies reported in reputable
> publications (I'd even accept _Time_ magazine).

Correct me if I am mistaken, but you are the guy who applauded speed
limits while admitting that you had received speeding tickets for
exceeding it yourself, yes?  Why should anyone be obligated to respond
to you?  Because you have issued a decree that only certain evidence
is admissible?  I haven't seen any hard facts from your side of the
debate either (although which side you're on isn't clear, as you seem
to be burning your candle from both ends).

I keep a log; every time I get gas I record my car's mileage, the
amount of gas, where I got it, octane, and other data.  My logs record
every smidgeon of a gallon of gas I've ever put in my car.  Based on
the routes I travel, I can determine what speeds favor better gas
mileage for my car.  I suspect that many of the folks claiming that
their cars get better gas mileage at 65 say so because they pay
attention.  Each car is different, of course, and speeds of maximal
gas efficiency are more a result of design than happenstance.

It would be most interesting to see where people fall on this issue
based on whether they drive with a manual transmission or an automatic
transmission (which is really more like driving a boat than a car).

I always signal and drive as consistently as possible; maybe that's
why I've never gotten a moving violation (I was found "not guilty" on
the one ticket I have ever received).

-Scott (bodarky@cme.nist.gov)| "The American public knows what it wants,
			     |  and deserves to get it good and hard."
  The National Institute     |  
 of Standards & Technology   |  	-H. L. Mencken