I just realized this when practicing fuel saving techniques. When coasting down hill on the highway, I can easily attain speeds of 60-65mph, which allows me to coast very far past the hill, often passing other "normal" drivers on the way. Once I slow down to 55 or so, I ease on the gas again. If the speed limit were strictly enforced to 55, people would have to waste energy by braking. Prius drivers have regenerative braking, but even that isn't very efficient.

Of course, if the limit were 65, then I couldn't drive 50-55 on the flats, which does save fuel. There should be special limits for the hills, which go back down further on when the road levels out.

But I live on a FLAT island , I can't even get up to 55MPH here! :rolleyes:

Then you are lucky, you can ride a bike.

Then you are lucky, you can ride a bike.

I float in a boat, with the wind at my back and the crabs in the sack! :cool:

Even better.

It's illegal to coast a truck on a steep hill, and fairly dangerous with other large, boxy vehicles - and that's where the 55 limit really saves.

Freeways have few such hills. Other roads have stop signs, slowdowns, etc, and the acceleration from them back up to 65 instead of 55 costs more than the slight cost of hills.

Most people get far better gas mileage over the freeway by setting their cruise controls than by managing their gas pedal.

and the crabs in the sack! :cool:

Crabs in the sack? Geez...you need a better grade of hooker or something. :)

Title of thread is missleading. It only wastes fuel downhill, otherwise 55 is pretty close to most cars' most economic speed...

Also most of the country's road is not on the hill...They are not going to keep changing the limit for every hill...

Crabs in the sack? Geez...you need a better grade of hooker or something. :)

I figured someone would take the "crab" bait I put out there! :D

What you "save" going down you more than "lose" going back up the hill! ;)