Published: Saturday, May 17, 2008
Speed kills, guzzles gas
Slow down, save money: As millions of Americans take to the roadways for the busy Memorial Day Weekend and summer driving season, the Governors Highway Safety Association reminds drivers that slowing down will not only reduce the amount of money they have to spend on gas, but also could save their lives.
According to the Department of Energy, aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. The agency also estimates that, as a rule of thumb, drivers can assume that each 5 mph they drive above 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
Despite the benefits of slowing down, the public has not yet gotten the message. According to an informal survey by the association of state highway safety agencies, only Wisconsin reports a noticeable trend of reduced speeds as a result of high gas prices.
In addition to helping fight the cost of record-high gas prices, slowing down also increases the likelihood of surviving a crash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Herald news services
According to the Department of Energy, aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. The agency also estimates that, as a rule of thumb, drivers can assume that each 5 mph they drive above 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
Despite the benefits of slowing down, the public has not yet gotten the message. According to an informal survey by the association of state highway safety agencies, only Wisconsin reports a noticeable trend of reduced speeds as a result of high gas prices.
In addition to helping fight the cost of record-high gas prices, slowing down also increases the likelihood of surviving a crash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Herald news services
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