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Slow Down or QUIT 'CHER WHINING!!

post #1 of 111
6/16/08 at 1:16pm
Thread Starter 
Why are so many people complaining about the high cost of fuel and then refuse to drive the speed limit
I tried driving between 60-65/hwy. all weekend and OMG - it wasn't just the truckers who were getting greeted in "sign language". Mind you, this is a quiet stretch of US 395, 4 lanes, very light traffic...one SUV caught up to me, tailgated, then did a "cut-off" pass between me and the big rig that I was following, only to have to pass the truck immediately thereafter.
Maybe he thought it costs more to drive in the fast lane
With all the hullaballoo about less dependency on foreign oil and with local gas prices over $4.70/gal. I would think that we'd get a clue and start saving....
what do you think??? Are we Americans behaving like spoiled brats
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post #2 of 111
6/16/08 at 1:37pm
It's not just Americans. Gas is almost twice the price in Germany, yet the "recommended speed" on the autobahn is still 130 k.p.h./81 m.p.h., and most people consider that "crawling". It's quite common to see idiots in their Porsches or Beemers driving 240 k.p.h./149 m.p.h.. Right now the European Soccer Championship games are taking place, and the gas prices aren't preventing people from driving around in circles and honking their horns for hours after a win.
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post #3 of 111
6/16/08 at 3:00pm
cats, what lane were you in? That is baloney if you were in the right-hand lane and they were honking and tailgating. I would have slowed down more.

Nowwww, if you were in the passing lane, then that was ME honking.


I have been driving slower and less. Coasting up to stop lights and such. Every little bit helps.
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post #4 of 111
6/16/08 at 8:19pm
They're voluntarily conserving here big time. I drive 65 and I'm passing cars, whereas a year ago they'd have been leaving me in the dust. It's quite noticeable that there is much less traffic, except perhaps during what passes for "rush hour" here. If you work, you've still got to go to work. But I think there's quite a bit less during the middle of the day and in the evening. And they're going slower.
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post #5 of 111
6/16/08 at 9:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
They're voluntarily conserving here big time. I drive 65 and I'm passing cars, whereas a year ago they'd have been leaving me in the dust. It's quite noticeable that there is much less traffic, except perhaps during what passes for "rush hour" here. If you work, you've still got to go to work. But I think there's quite a bit less during the middle of the day and in the evening. And they're going slower.
That's wonderful
CBKLV, I was in the slow lane. Lately, we've been getting a rash of people wanting representation for doing over 100mph. And they don't deny it they just don't want the penalties for getting caught. The judges are pretty easy going, though, and usu. agree to accept a guilty plea of a lesser charge. Not sure if that's all that great cuz our last 3 manslaughters involved excessive speed on icy roadways with drivers lacking experience in mountain driving....
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post #6 of 111
6/17/08 at 5:26am
There are some cars that get better gas mileage at higher speeds. Most of them are german made.
My MB gets the best mileage at 80 mph. 26.5 mpg to be exact.

If I travel at say 60 mph, the mileage drops to 23 mpg.

My wife's MB get's better mileage than mine, but the same speed factors hold true.
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post #7 of 111
6/17/08 at 5:31am
What I don't get isn't so much people driving fast, it's who's driving and for what. These days every high school is surrounded by cars, like every 16 yr old autmatically gets their own car. Taking the bus, walking, or riding a bike isn't cool I guess. And parents won't let their little kids walk even 100 ft, they have to be driven everywhere. Heck the neighbor drives her little girl the 1/2 mile down the dirt driveway to the school bus and back. And BOTH of them could stand to exercise.
How about recreational use of fuel? What's up with burning fossil fuel for snowmobiling, 4-wheeling and all that junk? A lot of those people I see around here would IMO be better off snowshoeing, x-crountry skiing, hiking or biking. It's better for the environment, better for their health and it doesn't waste fuel.
JMO!
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post #8 of 111
6/17/08 at 6:36am
My car gets better mileage at 70-75mph, and since most of my highway driving is on I-65 in Indiana, the speed limit is 70. I still get passed like crazy!

Although, I have seen a drop in the number of big rigs on 65.

Funny story about my car and gas mileage...several years ago, my (now) husband and I drove my car to Pennsylvania to visit his family. I was a little worried about gas mileage because of the steep slopes, but it seemed to be going well. On the trip home, I don't know how this happened, but the car averaged nearly 40mpg, and my speed was consistently around 70-75mph. I really think it had to do with the stillness of the air (I-65 is a nightmare with high winds).
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post #9 of 111
6/17/08 at 7:02am
What kind of car do you have, Jade?
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post #10 of 111
6/17/08 at 9:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2dogmom View Post
How about recreational use of fuel? What's up with burning fossil fuel for snowmobiling, 4-wheeling and all that junk? A lot of those people I see around here would IMO be better off snowshoeing, x-crountry skiing, hiking or biking. It's better for the environment, better for their health and it doesn't waste fuel.
JMO!

All tht *JUNK* as you put it is serious fun and sport for those into it. Just because you dont agree with it dosent mke it *JUNK*. I enjoy doing both 4 wheeling and snowmobiling. I dont do either to excess, but i do do it.
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post #11 of 111
6/17/08 at 10:02am
I just never go anywhere unless I have to. Most everything need is within a mile of my house, grocer, pharmacy, the salon I help out at sometimes, Wal-Mart. I drive a big V8 pickup that gets decent mileage for its size. I have a truck because they are so handy, and we used to move a lot, and I just like driving a truck.
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post #12 of 111
6/17/08 at 10:22am
I spend more time on my computer. It doesn't use any gas.
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post #13 of 111
6/17/08 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
What kind of car do you have, Jade?
1999 Ford Escort, with REALLY low mileage (around 52,000 miles).
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post #14 of 111
6/17/08 at 12:24pm
This angers me too!!!

For the past few weeks I have been making a conscious effort to drive the speed limit and it has helped me conserve gas. Not only to conserve gas, but it's the LAW and we should follow it anyway!!

I am amazed at how many people have gotten pissy and driven recklessly to get around me on tiny 2 lane roads, etc. I wish we had more cops out in force, but there's no way to ever stop it.

And to think there are some people out there who WANT gas prices to go up because they think we'll start using more means of transport that are environmentally friendly. It's just not gonna happen.
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post #15 of 111
6/17/08 at 12:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liza24 View Post
All tht *JUNK* as you put it is serious fun and sport for those into it. Just because you dont agree with it dosent mke it *JUNK*. I enjoy doing both 4 wheeling and snowmobiling. I dont do either to excess, but i do do it.
If people are burning fuel for recreation then apparently it isn't all that expensive. We as Americans did a lot more hiking and biking years ago and also were in better shape. Maybe fuel prices need to go up some more.
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post #16 of 111
6/17/08 at 12:47pm
I am really enjoying not owning a car right now, or anytime soon. It's nice to have disposable income and know I'm not giving blood money to the very people we are supposedly at war with.
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post #17 of 111
6/17/08 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2dogmom View Post
If people are burning fuel for recreation then apparently it isn't all that expensive. We as Americans did a lot more hiking and biking years ago and also were in better shape. Maybe fuel prices need to go up some more.
Unfortunately, not all of us live in an area where hiking and biking are feasible. The last time we went for a walk in the woods, we had to drive for a half an hour to get there. I don't own a bicycle any more because riding it near where I live is just too dangerous. If I drove to the beach I could ride it, but that kind of defeats the purpose.
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post #18 of 111
6/17/08 at 1:14pm
Same here. I have done so much research on bus routes, the possibilities of biking, the costs of a scooter, and commuting. I can't commute because there are 4 other people working here that live in different directions. I can't afford a scooter unless I sell my car, and what if it rains one day? No matter what I tried I couldn't find a safe bike route, which would be my preferred method of travel. And I couldn't find a bus route that came anywhere near my office. Plus I teach private lessons on the side so I have to have my car to get me where I need to go on time.

It's unfortunate.
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post #19 of 111
6/17/08 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenvillegal View Post
Same here. I have done so much research on bus routes, the possibilities of biking, the costs of a scooter, and commuting. I can't commute because there are 4 other people working here that live in different directions. I can't afford a scooter unless I sell my car, and what if it rains one day? No matter what I tried I couldn't find a safe bike route, which would be my preferred method of travel. And I couldn't find a bus route that came anywhere near my office. Plus I teach private lessons on the side so I have to have my car to get me where I need to go on time.

It's unfortunate.
It is unfortunate. It's a side effect of our oil dependence though, not the cause. More and more people are demanding reliable public transportation, and the more people who want to use it the more coverage there is. When gas hit 4$ here, the bus routes and times increased. My hometown now has bus service for the first time.

Most people do still need a car, but if enough of them ask for reliable public transport, bike lanes, etc, they will get them.
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post #20 of 111
6/17/08 at 1:39pm
I'm really not insisting that everyone go out and hug a tree. What I'm seeing in the rural area where I live though is that kids literally get on the four-wheeler in their back yard and head into the woods and that's how they spend their free time. There are even little kids, like 10 years old riding around on four-wheelers.
There isn't that much of a public transportation system either but there is a school bus that does our route. The kids would rather drive their own cars. I dont get it. I grew up here too and either took the school bus to school or rode my bike. My mother could not have afforded the luxury of a "kidcar." I didn't have a car until I got to college. Never in a million years would she have driven me the 1/4 mile to the school bus stop. My point is that as long as people have money to spend on that kind of thing then they can't be hurting too badly.
I'd drive less if I could but there is practically no public transportation system out here. We just keep our driving to a minimum. And the kids didn't get cars until they were 18 - they got to ride the school bus, even though it wasn't "cool," unless of course they could get a friend to drive them.
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post #21 of 111
6/17/08 at 1:56pm
I agree. I think now EVERYONE is starting to be hit with the high gas prices so finally people are starting to do something with it.
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post #22 of 111
6/17/08 at 3:43pm
My use of a vehicle for recreation is down to absolute zero. It's use is strict necessity. Since I'm not on a bus route, and it's also a long bicycle ride to anywhere I want to go, I have to take my car. And that means I think twice before leaving the house and going anywhere. I try to combine trips, and my general rule is if I only have one errand to run, that errand gets postponed until I can combine it with another.

Also, I'm further refining my conservative driving habits, and on the last couple fill-ups I'm getting about a 10 percent improvement in mileage, just by driving technique.
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post #23 of 111
6/17/08 at 5:18pm
Hummer sales are down 45%.

I think I'll buy one to boost the economy. I'm pretty sure I'll get one heck of a deal.
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post #24 of 111
6/17/08 at 5:50pm
I've noticed that also, especially on the way into work. It makes me wonder where they are getting the money to burn it through as fast as they are. It's always the SUV and trucks I see blowing by full speed ahead.
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post #25 of 111
6/17/08 at 6:16pm
My car seems to get the best gas mileage between 70-80 mph. A lot of places in SC are 70mph speed limits. We usually do 10 over on the interstate anyway, and this weekend coming back from NC, we were being passed like we had parked in the middle of the interstate!! On my drive to work, it's 65 mph, so we're usually going 70-75mph with left-lane traffic.

There WERE some left-lane stragglers doing 65 in a 70 on I-77 and I-26, and we'd be tailgating until they moved (or we got fed up waiting and went around them). We get 30-32mpg highway with our car though between that 70-80mph range.

Around town is 28-30mpg.
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post #26 of 111
6/17/08 at 6:24pm
I'm guilty. I have two sports cars and a crotch rocket and I'm not gonna lie, I have been known to occasionally (OK frequently) exceed the speed limit. Heck, I even speed in my dog-slow, gas-guzzling truck. Thats said, I'm generally not rude with slower drivers....
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post #27 of 111
6/17/08 at 7:38pm
The only thing I see that you're guilty of, is guilty of having enough money to feed all those.

I wouldn't mind another national speed limit reduction, though the 55 we had during the last gas shortage was a bit too slow. Last gas shortage? Assuming you'd have to be driving age to remember it, then you'd need to be about 50 to remember we went through this before.
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post #28 of 111
6/17/08 at 8:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by coaster View Post
The only thing I see that you're guilty of, is guilty of having enough money to feed all those.

I wouldn't mind another national speed limit reduction, though the 55 we had during the last gas shortage was a bit too slow. Last gas shortage? Assuming you'd have to be driving age to remember it, then you'd need to be about 50 to remember we went through this before.
i'm 50 & i remember. they lowered the speed limit right before i turned 16 & got my license!
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post #29 of 111
6/18/08 at 1:30pm
You all do know of course that alternatives to gas/oil have been available for a number of years. These alternatives have been presented to our governments who want nothing to do with them. Why? Because it would mean less money for our governments in taxes.

My BIL went to the Canadian Government more than 5 years ago with a bio-diesel idea - they weren't interested. Not more than 2 weeks ago another gentleman got airplay for the same product but the government still doesn't want it.

I, at this very moment in time, have recycled french fry oil in my diesel car. It has been processed (not a huge deal to do) by my BIL and my car is running fine (although I do seem to get hungry when driving - just kidding). He has been running his Mercedes diesel on this bio-diesel for at least 5 years and no issues with it at all.

I believe even Saudi Arabia is questioning why fuel is becoming so expensive - figure that one out.
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post #30 of 111
6/18/08 at 1:43pm
Gas prices are the bane of my existence. I have an luxury SUV that I absolutely love driving. I have issues with rheumatoid arthritis and the roomy cars are easier for me to drive. Plus I have long legs and they work better for me.
But to fill it up costs me 60 dollars. I mainly city drive and cluster my errands to stores in the same area.
I have been ordering online from Amazon as a prime member for 2 dollar two day shipping.
I am lucky enough to have the money to buy as much gas as I want but I resent feeding the sick dependence we have on foreign oil.
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