Would you be willing to slow down for the sake of the environment?

Question

If not how about for the sake of your wallet?

"The Union of Concerned Scientists tells us that dropping from 70 to 60 mph improves fuel efficiency by an average of 17.2 percent. Dropping from 75 to 55 improves fuel efficiency by 30.6 percent!(3)

Put another way, in a family sedan, every 10 mph you drive over 60 is like paying 54 cents per gallon more for gas you bought at $3.25 a gallon. (4) That extra cost is even higher for big SUVs and other less-efficient vehicles.

And the time you save by going easy on the accelerator may not add up to as much as you thought. On a 300-mile trip, driving 65 instead of 70 mph would cost you only 20 minutes -- but save money and spew less carbon. "

Answer 1

Yes, infact I desire to slow down quite a bit....by walking and riding my bike as many places as possible, on exam day when I did not need my backpack I ran all the way to school-besides its relaxing.

Answer 2

55 MPH is already what I drive on highways. I use the cruise control, and employ various hypermileing techniques.

Of course, the highest MPGs that you can get is from walking or biking or taking public transit, so I do that as much as possible.

Answer 3

THIS IS COMMON LOGIC, I DID'NT KNOW YOU HAD TO ASK THE SCIENTISTS ABOUT THIS. I SAY TO EACH HIS OR HER OWN WITH THEIR OWN MONEY OR YOU CAN BUY A CAR FROM INDIA THAT COST $2500.00 AND GETS 50 MILES TO THE GALLON.  OH AND THE ENVIRONMENT WONT BE HARMED BY THINGS AS THEY ARE, BECAUSE THE EXHAUST LIKE OTHER NON-SOLIDS DECIPATE  IN THE UPPER FROZE THINNED AIR.

Answer 4

How much carbon did you spew, with this question.  when you figure in the cost of the Elec. to run the pc, to ask it in the first place?

Answer 5

Actually, ever since Dana1981 asked a similar question, I've been more heedful of my driving.

I find it possible to slow it down a little, do more in fewer trips, keep the air off longer, not start off as quickly and so on without it impacting my life in any way.

I noticed there are a lot of corners can cut and little things I can do which could potentially be helpful.  I've been trying to cut down waste, trying to recycle more and buy more recyclables, reuse my own bags, buy water in larger quantity containers or in that which is made from less plastic (but I can’t find ‘Primo Water’ anywhere around here yet or I would buy only that).  Switch all my incandescent light bulbs; switch my computer to energy star compliant mode.  Switched my TV and DVD player to energy star products, dim my lights. Turn off things when I’m not using them more (no TV playing in the background right now like what may have been the case at one point just because I didn’t think about it).  Use less water to do things, turn it off and on while shaving or brushing, etc.  It goes on and on… I have to feel that a lot of other people are beginning to get like this, I’m sure I’m not alone here.  

Driving is just one of many things we can tweak a little and in the long run, I know for me, it is doing some good because ultimately I will be drawing less energy and impacting the environment much less than I otherwise would have been.  And if many people do this, the impact could be significant.

Answer 6

Yes for both the environment and for my pocketbook. Driving at slower speeds actually saves gas.

Answer 7

Yes, I would.

Answer 8

What the heck does this have to do with global warming? Is carbon dioxide even proved to be a greenhouse gas????

Answer 9

I STARTED SLOWING DOWN ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND ON MY VAN EACH M.P.H. OVER 60 IS ABOUT + 2 % MORE FUEL . AT 60 M.P.H. ON FLAT LAND WITH 1000 LB LOAD I PULL 20 - 21 M.P.G. AND THIS IS A 3/4 TON WITH A V-8 ( FACTORY CONVERSION HI-TOP )

Answer 10

It depends.  What would the cumulative carbon output difference be.

Answer 11

wow. yes I will definitely slow down. Shoot, I try not to drive unless i have to!

Answer 12

Even though I can't drive yet I'd be willing to ride like bikes,horses other sources I love this planet we want to stay...http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/p...

Answer 13

This is totally unnecessary. We should force legislation mandating a switch to hydrogen and electric cars.

Answer 14

I started slowing down when the prices went sky high, in fact I am more environmentally friendly now as I walk a lot more, rather than use my car.  And because I live in the country there are a lot of wild life about on the country roads,deer/bunnies/pheasants/badgers so I did drive quite carefully before the high fuel prices!

Maybe that is one of the few benefits of high fuel prices, that people are not using their cars as much, so better for the environment! :)

Answer 15

UCS isn't the only one tooting this horn.  The U.S. EPA says that you can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph.

What they don't tell you is that if you do that in places like Southern California, other drivers will run you off the road!

But I have slowed my speed, I am trying to rid my car of unneeded weight by cleaning it out regularly, I use my overdrive whenever my speed is high enough, I seldom drive aggressively (people here are always in a hurry to get to the red light!), and I keep use of my air conditioning to a minimum.

Transportation consumes about 25 percent of the total energy used in the United States.  If most of us try to watch our speed and take other measures, we'll save money up front and by reducing our impacts to the environment.