From: jammer@eskimo.com (Lyle Harwood)
Newsgroups: seattle.general
Subject: Re: Why CAN'T people drive 55?!
Date: 1 Jan 93 01:55:05 GMT
Organization: -> ESKIMO NORTH (206) For-Ever <-
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Bill Campbell (bill@Celestial.COM) wrote:
: In <1992Dec30.194123.24106@eskimo.com> alpinist@eskimo.com (David Butler) writes:
: 
: :In article <1849@rwing.UUCP> pat@rwing.UUCP (Pat Myrto) writes:
: :>Harold - don't you recall that the DESIGN speed limit was 70 when the
: :>freeways were made?  The 55 speed limit was imposed supposedly to reduce
: :>fuel consumption (something that it does not do in more than a few cars).
: 
: :It's been a while since I've seen the statistics but there is a big
: :correlation between speed and gas consumption.  It is a lot more than
: :just a few cars.
: 
: It depends on the car's design and setup.  I had a Lotus Elan
: with a Broadspeed prepared Cosworth BDA Engine which was most
: efficient at 80MPH.  Below that I had to be in 3rd gear :-).
: 
: :>A reduction (temporary, mostly) in accidents and fatalities was a spin
: :>off.
: 
: :The state insurance commisioner issued a report a couple years back showing
: :a large correlation between increased gas prices and reduced number of
: :accidents.  The theory being that when gas prices are up people both drive
: :less and drive more carefully to get better mileage which reduces the chance
: :of getting into an accident.
: 
: The real reason for the drop was that the lower speed limits and
: limited driving resulting from the gas ``shortage'' (it was
: amazing that getting gas wasn't a problem once I got 100 miles
: from Washington D.C. where the politicians could see the
: problems).  People were driving far fewer miles during this time
: so fewer accidents/fatalities.  The significant numbers are the
: accidents/fatalities per million miles driven.
: 
: .......
: :>  Incidentally, a side effect of driving to not be noticed,
: :>keeping the intervals open, etc., not only is enhanced safety, but lower
: :>insurance rates (not a trivial consideration these days).  The cost of
: :>liability, collision, comp, etc. can be enough to give anybody a coronary.
: 
: :Actually this isn't true.  The car that isn't noticed is more likely to
: :be hit.  The most common excuse for an accident is "I didn't even see him".
: :I don't know statistics on the color of cars and tickets, but I do know that
: :red cars are statistically less likely to get into an accident than any other
: :color - the theory being that they are easier to see.  Likewise drab colors
: :(Tan and black) are more likely to get into accidents.
: : 
: Red cars are much more likely to receive tickets too,
: particularly red sports cars.
: 
: I agree with the visibility issue.  My solution (I drive a tan
: Subaru Legacy wagon) is keep the headlights on all the time.  The
: lights turn off automatically when the ignition is off (makes
: much more sense than starting some stupid chime :-) so I don't
: have to worry about running the battery down.
: 
: Bill
: -- 
: INTERNET:  bill@Celestial.COM   Bill Campbell; Celestial Software
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