Save gas and lives! Drive Slower!

John Ehinger recently wrote a column that appeared in the Sunday edition of the Huntsville Times.

The topic: Saving lives and driving down the cost of gasoline!

The solution? Simple, really. Just slow down! Driving slower would reduce the demand on gas by 2 to 3% and maybe knock the price of gas down by 10%. Driving slower is also safer, so this is obviously a 'win-win' situation for everybody.

Ehinger points out the solution, and then calls on what else? Government to fix it!

'The Alabama Legislature should lower the maximum speed limit to 60 mph on interstates and all other highways...'

It sure sounds good in theory... but it won't happen.

The reason it won't happen is because we're willing to accept a certain amount of risk for the benefit on not having a longer commute. Namely, driving 70mph on the interstate for 15 minutes as opposed to driving 35mph for 30 minutes.

We're also not willing to do everything we can to save on fuel. When radio stations hold promotional events and sell gas $1 a gallon, people line up as far as the eye can see. People will wait HOURS to be able to fill up and save $20-$30.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather pay $35 bucks to fill up my tank in 3 minutes and be done with it rather than wait an hour or two so I can pay $10 bucks for a fill-up.

And although hundreds line up for the cheaper gas, there are thousands more who DON'T.

Their time is more valuable!

Government can't pass a law that will change a human behavior.