Driving like gas is cheap

© 2008 by Michael Swickard, Ph.D.

With all of the angst about high gas prices it is reasonable to expect concerned drivers to slow down, since driving slower dramatically increases gas mileage. So, the predicted market effect of four-dollar-a-gallon gasoline is that it should slow people down.

While traveling this last week I undertook an unscientific study about the effect of gas prices on drivers. I found that I was the only person on the roads who drives the speed limit or a bit under. This was during two business trips: one to Albuquerque and then, later, one to Amarillo. Total miles: about 1,400 in a week. I kept watching for a change of behavior in drivers to indicate that the high price of fuel made a difference.

Again, if people are upset by the high price of gas, I would expect them to do something about it other than just complain. If we have a gas crisis I could not find it; likewise, we have no unemployment since some businesses have had the same sign out for years wanting employees.

The media is full of stories about people weeping at the gas pump. I noticed that after weeping about the gas prices they dry their tears and launch themselves onto the highways at a high rate of speed.

I know that to point this out makes me seem like a geezer grumbling, “Everybody is driving like they are fleeing from the police.” But many are doing so.

My big car gets the acceptable gas mileage of about 30 miles per gallon if I drive easy, which includes starting slowly, coming to a gentle stop and holding my speed down. Besides slowing down I even turn off the air conditioner at times.

These actions boost my gas mileage. However, if I am not alone in the car I notice a screeching noise when I turn off the air conditioner. Well, I do not blame anyone for the screeching when it is over 100 degrees; however, my first four cars did not have air conditioning so I am fine with the window down unless it is 107 in Roswell like it was on Monday. I gratefully ran the air conditioner.

So all I got from my trips was 28.57 mpg, though it was very peaceful in my car other than drivers doing 100 mph passing me like a flash of lightning. While going the speed limit on a two-lane road I was passed over the double-yellow line by people exploding by and angrily gesturing at me for holding them up since they had to slow down to the legal speed limit for a few seconds. These drivers jackrabbit start and slide to a stop. They use full acceleration and total brakes. In effect, their vehicle only has two modes: on or off.

Either these people are not bothered by the high gasoline prices or there is a whole passel of very stupid people on the road.

Dysfunctional logic

Importantly, I do not want the government to lower the speed limit. Obviously it cannot enforce the speed limits it already has, so lowering them will have no effect. I just do not want to hear any more talk about high gas prices while so many people are racing around with no regard for economy or even safety.

After thinking on this problem I realize that there is some dysfunctional logic at work. These fast drivers think that the longer you drive, the more gas you use. From the time they start their cars until they turn them off, they think their cars use gas at the exact same rate. So, they reason, it is more economical doing 100 mph than 60 because you reach your destination quicker.

Likewise, if you intend to put your life on the line by passing over a double-yellow line, do it as quickly as possible so you are not in danger as long. I did not say I thought this was good logic, only that it must be the logic these people are using by observing their driving.

A friend of mine was driving in Mexico a few years ago. Going up a two-lane mountain road there was the mountain on one side and a cliff on the other. Around a blind curve with a double-yellow line, her rental car was going uphill as fast at it could, about 60 mph. My friend was not watching the rear-view mirror. Imagine her surprise and horror when a large bus, ignoring the danger, came around to pass her. On the back of the bus was a sign which said, “Mejor muerto que tarde.” That translates: better dead than late. As chance would have it the road was clear.

We all need to save gas and lives. A much better sign on our cars: Mejor tarde que muerto, better late than dead. I will be the car easing down the road at about the speed limit. You do whatever you want. But if you drive like a bat out of you-know-where, please do not complain about gas prices.

Swickard is a weekly columnist for this site. You can reach him at michael@swickard.com.