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From: smh@mhuxl.UUCP (henning)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: 55MPH-save gas?
Message-ID: <597@mhuxl.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 22-Feb-86 10:11:23 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxl.597
Posted: Sat Feb 22 10:11:23 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 03:59:09 EST
References: <424@cubsvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 20

>    All this debate on the 55mph limit made me wonder whether
> claims made by the "government" were ever verified.  I
> remember that the lower speed limit had 'dramatically' reduced
> gas consumption.  Although the original intention was to save
> lives (which I think was well demonstrated) this second boon
> resulted.  
> David

Apparently David was not old enough to read newspapers in 1974.  On
Aug. 15, 1971, Nixon imposed wage and price restrictions which made
it unprofitable to produce oil and gas in the US.  Then on Dec. 18
he devalued the US dollar which really had the effect of making it
unprofitable to import oil into the US.  Then on October 19, 1973
the Arab oil producing states imposed a total ban on oil exports to
the US.  In January, 1974, US oil companies posted record profits,
lines at the gas stations were several blocks long and we were in 
trouble.  After the 55 mph limit was imposed, the number of highway
deaths droped from 55,000 per year to 46,000 per year.  Therefore,
the limit which was put in place to help shorten the lines at the
gas pumps also reduced the lines at the mortuaries.