Lower Speed Limits, Save Fuel? Michigan Thinks So! Will Others Follow?

[Joey D]

They're legal. My brother's scooter is only a 50cc unit, classified as a Moped, totally road legal. The "top speed" is supposed to be 35 MPH with most of them, but every one we've come across has had the limiter removed and they'll happily cruise at 55 MPH all day. Get one with a bigger engine, you'll be doing nearly 80 MPH, and will be highway legal.

Huh, didn't know they were illegal. They still annoy me. If you can't keep up with the flow of traffic you have no business being on that road. Pretty much all two lane roads around me are 50 or 55, if you can't do at least then then there is an issue. I wish more people would remove the limiter and go the limit with them...or get over to allow others to pass.

In all honesty, I don't think anyone in Michigan is dumb enough to fall for it again. We had the same 55 MPH rule that went out of effect in what, the late '80s or the early '90s? It never did much, and to be honest, I always recall having everyone in my family break the law and consequently law enforcement never went by the book.

I think the 55 back in the 80's and early 90's was national and not just a state thing. But you are right, most cops didn't care at all. However with the state being in a budget crunch I think they would police it a bit better this time.

What if we take a trip from Grand Rapids to Chicago?

180 Miles / 55 MPH = 3.3 Hours (Proposed Speed Limit)

180 Miles / 70 MPH = 2.5 Hours (Current Speed Limit)

180 Miles / 85 MPH = 2.1 Hours (Speed Usually Observed)

That would be horrid . I think I would quit going on road trips and supporting the Michigan economy if I only could go 55 everywhere.

Trust me, driving at 45-55 will increase your fuel economy by a huge factor. 28 mpg? 32-36 is probably possible... and 40 mpg if conditions are favorable. Remember, Japanese car, Japanese gearing... and it'll be most economical at speeds your typical Japanese motorist would be driving out in the countryside, which is about 30-40 mph.

I don't think it's that big of a jump, it's more about how you get to the speed and how you maintain it. What's better? Cruising right at 80 for an hour straight on cruise control or going from 55 to 70 to 45 to 60 to 55 over and over again? Even hold at 55 won't cause that big of a jump, I think I maybe save a whole 700rpms at 55 then I do at 75 and that's in my little rubber band engine.

 

[YSSMAN]

There has to be a calculator out there somewhere that can determine if you're burning more or less fuel at a slower speed despite the higher fuel efficiency. My rough estimates seem to make it a bit more "variable," so, I don't know. I personally don't want to be in the car any longer than I have to... And if I'm losing a few miles on a gallon here or there despite getting to my destination hours earlier, I'm willing to make that sacrifice.

 

[Sage]

You’d have to plug in a large number of variables, including gearing ratios, fuel burning efficiency at various revs (oxygen:fuel ratios), torque figures, etc. It would be infinitely easier to just do it by trial-and-error.

 

[niky]

Yup... tons of variables.

Easier to do the Mythbusters thing... use a calibrated flow gauge...

I've gotten over 30 mpg a few times, on long trips. Best I've done on short trips in traffic is about 23 mpg (normal driving) and about 28 mpg (eco-driving). I've done a ton of highway trips, and the difference between going 50, 60 and 80 mph over extended periods is quite noticeable. In fact, highest MPG I've ever seen (in any car) is about 50 mpg or so, at a crawling 40 mph, using the Prius, a Focus Turbodiesel and a CVT-equipped Honda Fit Sedan. Excellent numbers. But just too damn slow to keep up with regular highway traffic. At "normal" speeds, these cars all do about 3040 mpg.

Of course, to save gas, it's simple! Just tax the damn gas and get it over with. If people want to spend more to go faster, that's their concern. If they switch to smaller cars, better. A stinking speed limit won't really solve a fuel crisis... it's taxing the fuel itself that forces people to conserve.

 

[YSSMAN]

Here here!

Keep fuel expensive, people make better choices. It became somewhat evident last week when fuel consumption was at a low in the US, despite the July 4th holiday. More fuel on hand should curb prices a bit, but with what we see going on elsewhere in the world, that becomes more questionable by the day.