Letter: Legislature nonsensical to raise speed limit
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
According to the 2014 Fuel Economy Guide, the average car runs at maximum efficiency at 50-55 mph, emitting about 5 tons of greenhouse gas per year at that speed. At 80 mph, emissions rise to 9 tons — almost twice as much.
Despite these facts, our Legislature just raised the speed limit to 80 in some areas, which would nearly double toxic emissions.
Does anyone else find this odd at a time when we are trying to cut pollution? Wouldn't it make more sense to lower, not raise the speed limit?
But then, this is the Utah Legislature we're talking about.
Breck England
Bountiful