A "civil"car is a cheap investment in fuel economy.

don't be a hater...

Slurping my coffee, I hear the honk from behind demanding that I accelerate faster. God forbid there is a car length between my front bumper and the car ahead. I am sorry that my car is not advancing as fast as you think that it should. I lift my foot off of the brake and my car rolls forward, without acceleration, to advance the 5 feet of open road that have just become available. Go ahead! whip your car out in front of that other moving vehicle, floor your gas pedal and quickly jerk the steering wheel back into the lane in front of my car.

This phenomenon was new to me before I changed jobs about a year ago and began driving at peak traffic time on a highway that merges (or bleeds) into Georgia interstate 285. Before then, I had encountered such traffic occasionally, without warning, and let's face it; when reality does not meet expectation, tolerance can be scarce.

But on 285? At 8:00 a.m. -what did you expect? Unless you have a flying Jetson-mobile, you are not going to move faster than the lines of traffic that appear endlessly before you. Even if you tailgate the car in front of you and refuse to allow anyone who had the misfortune of not changing lanes as soon as you did to merge; you will not get to work faster. No, you gain nothing.... except control.

But at what cost?

Besides the damage to your cardiovascular system from stress and hate; you expend unnecessary gasoline with each push of the pedal. Assuming you drive aggressively throughout your commute, you may be spending as much as 30% more on your fuel than you have to.(see "Slowing down a little saves a lot")

Gaining 60 inches of road before your fellow commuter is like pushing the "close" button instead of holding the elevator for the person 2 seconds away. And how do you feel when that grateful person smiles and thanks you? Personally,I feel happy, just as I do when I allow cars to merge in front of me, knowing that I am relieving some of their stress as well as my own. Who knows? I may be preventing an accident ahead of me from that same desperate driver's failed attempt to wedge himself in front of an unwilling "merge snob".

All I am saying is face the reality. Embrace rush hour, anticipate it, benefit from it, don't worry, and be a HAPPY SPEEDER.

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Car magnets, bumper stickers, decals inform others

Driving to work in Atlanta is like people-watching at the mall. The variety is astounding. I never get tired of admiring the uniqueness of individuals. Some people express their personality with the car they drive; others, by the way they decorate their car. Any given commute is going to have a sample set that is somewhat limited in variety: Mine includes folks who work near the center of the city on weekdays, and who don't have to arrive before 8:00 in the morning. Traveling from the suburbs, it is a reasonable assumption that most of my commute companions live outside the urban hub, and that they are not independently wealthy. Beyond these generalizations, I have also noted the following from the stickers, decals and magnets my fellow traffic troopers place on their backside:

• Republicans out-number democrats 3 to 2, based on "W" decals.
• These folks have kids who make good grades, play sports and go to college.
• Most people attended a college or university and are proud of that fact.
• Many people are proud to be American and support our troops.

Why would these educated, family-oriented, patriotic people be among the "most likely to display Road-Rage"? In a recent article from the Washington Post, some research is described that is un-flattering to my fellow commuters.By SHANKAR VEDANTAM Washington Post Published on: 06/17/08 The article quotes a social psychologist from Colorado State University, whose research suggests that drivers of cars with bumper stickers, magnets, window decals, and personalized license plates are more likely to express frustration when someone cuts in front of them or is slow to respond to a changed traffic light. In a paper published in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, William Szlemko notes that the more bumper stickers etc. on a car, the more likely that driver is to honk, tailgate and demonstrate aggressive "communication" when they disagree with an other's driving techniques. Szlemko further noted that it does not matter whether the messages on the stickers are about peace and love — "Visualize World Peace" — or angry and in your face — "My Kid Beat Up Your Honor Student." In my opinion, these conclusions are preliminary at best, and should be further validated with larger sample sets, including drivers from different regions of the country, different times of the day, and by more than one research source. My skepticism of Mr. Szlemko's published results is based on my personal research of the driving habits of a reformed aggressive driver. While driving slower to save fuel, I am more likely to provoke road-rage than demonstrate it. In order to reduce the impact that my driving style may have on other's, my car magnet is designed to warn and inform. A little information often helps to calm the quick-tempered, and I believe that saving money on gas also relieves stress. My message is non-confrontational, non-political and non-judgemental. Sort of like-"Smile! and the world smiles with you." If you share my faith in the citizen commuter, spread the message! As a HAPPY SPEEDER proclaim:

Slowing down a little...Saves a Lot!

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Independence from 55 mph for happy speeders.

You might as well get used to it, 55 mph is going to be the limit. From CNN.com comes this headline:

National Speed limit pushed as Gas Saver.

"Sen. John Warner, A REPUBLICAN! asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit. In 1974, congress set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon." cnn.com

I don't like it!...where in the constitution does it specify that we are free to pursue our happiness and liberty as long as oil is plentiful?! I am an advocate of driving slower to save fuel, but I also believe in freedom. Just the other day, I excercised my freedom to utilize the speed limit of 75 mph to make up for hitting the snooze button. (see: demand for gas increases in summer ) By mandating that no American is allowed to exceed 55 mph, congress would be implying that we the people, are not smart enough to make wise choices regarding our national resources. I resent the implication, and I don't think that our founding fathers would approve, either.

Happy Speeder. all rights reserved

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Choose to use less fuel before the Law changes and you have No Choice!

March 26, 2008 -"The American Trucking Associations is calling for a nationwide, 65-mph speed limit.... A highway slowdown has begun in response to high energy prices—and the big trucking companies are leading the way. Con-Way Freight, one of the nation's largest trucking firms with 8,500 rigs, has announced it is turning back the electronic speed limiters in its entire fleet from 65 miles per hour to 62 mph." More info available in original article at U.S. News & World Report. Easing up on my lead foot, and setting the cruise control to 60 mph, are easy changes for me to make. Choosing to save fuel is my right, and I am proud to do it, because I believe that using less fuel is smart for the future of America. Luckily, I live in a democracy, so I don't have to worry about my government forcing me to change how I commute - right? The truth is, many laws are passed based on the votes of our elected officials, whose opinions may be influenced by powerful lobby groups. If an informed America votes to require everyone to drive slower, then so be it. I hope folks take advantage of the opportunities that their anscestors fought and died for; investigate the truth, stay involved and VOTE! In the immortal words of Lee Greenwood: "I'm Proud to be an American, were at least I know I'm free...." by Happy Speeder

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