Speeding, we’ve all done it. You’re late to work, late picking up the kids, or you’re rocking out to your favorite song, totally oblivious to just how fast you’re driving. Whatever the reason, we’ve all applied a little more pressure to the gas pedal than the law allows at some point.
For some of us, speeding is the only way we get anywhere. But, have you ever thought about how your speed affects your environment? It’s a no-brainer that driving less reduces carbon emissions in our atmosphere, but what about just slowing down?
Did you know that driving the speed limit can not only save you from a hefty ticket, but it can also save our Planet?!
According to smart guys like Arthur van Benthem at Wharton University, driving just 10 miles over the 55 miles per hour limit increases carbon monoxide levels by 23% and nitrogen oxide levels by 16%. As we go faster, more harmful gases are released. When these damaging gases are unleashed into the atmosphere, not only does it create air pollution, which has an impact on our health, but it also adds to the heat index. This contributes to climate issues like the melting of the polar ice caps, droughts, and flooding.
And that’s not all. Driving faster also consumes more fuel. “Driving a vehicle at 65 mph consumes about 15% more fuel than driving the same vehicle at 55 mph”, states Ford Motor Company. This wreaks havoc on the Planet’s already depleting natural resources and costs you more money!
Peak efficiency for most American cars is said to be at about 50 to 60 miles per hour. So, honestly, anything over that is like throwing oil into the ocean. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Americans barreled through 390 million gallons of gas per day in 2019.
That’s a lot of petroleum! But, if we reduce our speed to a peak performance speed of about 50-55 miles per hour when traveling on the highway, we could save about 3 billion gallons of gas, as claimed by Bob Schildgen, writer for Sierra.
So, the next time you’re in the car imagining you’re in the Indy 500, consider using cruise control to maintain a constant speed. Enjoy your car ride more, knowing that you are doing your part to save a tree, sea life, and a significant amount of money on fuel!
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Jammica Boone is a writer and content creator for Enviroperks.