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From: sullivan@harvard.ARPA (John Sullivan)
Newsgroups: net.legal,net.auto,net.consumers
Subject: Re: 55mph speed limit
Message-ID: <1@harvard.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 2-Apr-85 23:29:09 EST
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Posted: Tue Apr  2 23:29:09 1985
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> Some very interesting comments here.  How can the 55 mph speed limit be
> saving 167,000 barrels of petroleum a day and 9000-10000 lives a year when
> more than a 75% of the cars on rural interstate highways exceed it?
> 				Phil Kos

The cars may be going above 55, but they are going more slowly than
they used to.  Actually, the most important factor contributing to
the saving of lives is the reduction in the spread of speeds.  These
days most people drive at 55-70, whereas the spread was much greater
before.  Another interesting point is that old cars may not be most
efficient at 55 mph, but most newer once have been designed that way.

John M. Sullivan
sullivan@harvard