A recent study published in the Nature journal Communications Sustainability found that driving at the speed limit can save U.S. drivers millions of dollars at the gas pump and eliminate millions of gallons of fuel each day. The study analyzed 120 million vehicle trips across the United States from four Wednesdays in 2021 using driving data on national road networks, speed limits, and U.S. Geological Survey elevation data.

Findings

The researchers found that if drivers of light-duty, conventional internal combustion engine vehicles actually drove at posted speed limits, it could save an average of $22 million, based on fuel costs at the time, 6.7 million gallons of fuel, and 57,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide every day. This is comparable to taking about 5.5 million passenger vehicles off the road.

The study also found that driving at or below the posted limit corresponds to only about 54 seconds longer per day, with an average daily driving distance of 28.6 miles. This challenges the common perception that speeding saves time.

State Variations

The study found differences among states, with Nevada seeing elevated speeding prevalence as well as high speed excess. There was high speeding prevalence in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, though those states did not necessarily exhibit high speed excess. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and South Dakota showed both low speeding prevalence and speed excess.

Driving faster increases a vehicle’s energy use and the emissions from its engine, as well as reduces efficiency. Vehicle engines have become increasingly more efficient over the past several decades, even as vehicles have gotten bigger and more powerful.

Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.