2008.06.29
Discuss Trejbal's column on speed limits
Racing through Giles County
Christian Trejbal
Trejbal is an editorial writer for The Roanoke Times based in the New River Valley bureau in Christiansburg.
I drive north from the New River Valley often enough that I have almost memorized the twists and turns of U.S. 460 between Blacksburg and West Virginia. They provide moments of excitement not found on straight highways. Then the New River bursts into view or the Blue Ridge Mountains bring the horizon close, and I struggle to hold my eyes on the road. Days later, I return from wherever and the familiarity of 460 reminds me that I am almost home. All in all, it's a pleasant stretch of road through Giles County.
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The first thing that jumps out at me about this is the apparent incongruity between your often stated position on global warming and your desire to drive as fast as you want.
Maybe your moving toward the idea that the whole global warming argument is overblown, but I doubt it.
I suspect this is just more representive of the entitled attitude that plagues America today. You know, the government should do something to correct this problem, but I shouldn't be expected to make any sacrifices to help.
But you are right. It is a balancing act. The on-board computer in my car tells me reducing my speed from 70 mph to 65 mph will save between 2 and 3 mpg depending on the terrain. In the meantime, increasing speed from 65 to 70 will save me twenty minutes over a 280 mile trip. I have to decide if it's more important to me to save the 20 minutes or the approximately 2 gallons ($8 to $10) of gas.
But wasn't it just a week or so ago all eco-warriors were on these pages debating about how many pounds of greenhouse gas is emitted by burning a gallon of gas?
If you buy into this whole man-made global warming theory, and you recognize that changing the speed limit will mean thousands of cars, rather than just yours, burning more gas, this position would seem irresponsible as good liberal environmentalist. Again, could this be some type of Freudian acknowledgement that the whole global warming flap is overblown?
And global warming aside, doesn't your argument for using more gas by driving faster for the sake of convenience fly in the face of your stated position about reducing the nation's dependence on fossil fuels?
Next thing you know you'll be in favor of expanding domestic drilling operations.
Comment by C Ramsey — June 29, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Great. Since small increments don't matter anymore, I'll start mowing my lawn again.
Comment by Josh — June 29, 2008 @ 11:13 am
Nice article and it reminds me of my first and only speeding ticket. It was at Narrows on the old road and I was doing 25 MPH in a 20 MPH speed zone.
Comment by Bp Lucas — July 10, 2008 @ 3:59 pm