Speed Limits

Tim Haab commented on this EPA News Release, asking how the numbers were calculated and if they were accurate. The Answer is that they are extremely optimistic, and not very well devised. The real component is very heavy weight transported at high Speed. I had a discussion with a Trucker last Week who was complaining of the 2 mpg loss because of the high Winds; this is serious when you only average 5.5 mpg to begin with on his heavy load consignments. Bumpers and mirrors might reduce wind resistence by 2% at most. It might be capable of saving thousands of gallons of fuel, and so the fuel cost; it is no panacea in any case.

The optimum solution is to set Speed limits according to prevailing Winds. A national Speed limit system set precisely to Wind Conditions would require specialized Speed signs with Wind testing equipment, and strict law enforcement. Speed variance, to maximize fuel efficiency, would be somewhere between 35mph and 75 mph. Fuel advantage would be cut down if the Speeds restrictions were limited to freight transport alone, because of the rapid speeding and slowing of passenger vehicles to get around trucks. Overall Traffic slowdown, though, will vastly improve Traffic safety and Fuel efficiency for all vehicles.

Remember the Song: ‘I can’t Drive 55'. Traffic slowdowns will endure much opposition. Some of the problems which will be encountered: Drivers will insist on a higher Price for each Freight-ton mile, Business will need approximately 11% greater Warehouse capacity, and more Truck Drivers will be needed. Actual effect states that directional Speed limits will not injure real Transport volumes, though lengthening Transport times. New Transport Relay businesses will probably be initiated, where Truckers only transmit trailers to Depots partway to their destination, before they pick up a Return load for themselves; only the Relay businesses will deal with the Consignment agents themselves. More Trouble: Yes! Baseline: savings of between a guess-estimate (mine) of between 23-29% of total Fuel consumption. Added Benefit: between $5-7 billion in Speeding Tickets, rather than ordinary taxation for Government Services. lgl