In the 1970s, confronted with a similar crisis, we dropped speed limits to 55 mph. People did so, helped by the fact that more, smaller, less powerful cars became more abundant--and for a lot of those, driving much over 60 mph was pretty hard.

Today? Don't hold your breath. The posted 65, or 70, or 75 mph limit in some parts of the country, is a minimum suggested starting point. If you drive the speed limit, you'll probably cause a massive pileup because of all the cars trying to get around you.

We, as a people, are determined to self-destruct. Gas prices too high? Drive slower and less. (Sorry, can't make that sacrifice.) Overweight? Eat less and healthier. (What, give up the super mega-platter at my favorite restaurant, along with the 64 ounce GutBuster soda at my convenience store, where I had to buy overpriced gas? Are you nuts?!)

Next thing you know, they'll be asking us to stop smoking, drinking, using drugs and sex. It's my life and I can ruin it if I want to.

(For the sarcastically-challenged: this post is dripping with sarcasm.)

During WWII I think the speed limit was like 35 mph.  To conserve rubber, among other things.

If accelerating uses extra gas then it stands to reason that zipping from red light to red light would be gas-wasteful.  I try to anticipate red lights to best best of my ability and when I see one turn red I slow way down in hopes it will turn green by the time I get there.  Yup folks, I'm the one you cuss as you speed around me only to sit at the light.

I had my Plymouth for 11 years and in that time put one set of brakes on it.  Not only does driving with sense cut gas milage and tire rubber, it saves your brakes too.  AND it keeps your purse from ending up upside down in the floorboard with 2-3 thousand items scattered all around.

I wonder why every auto is not available with a hybrid option.  Most of every ones mileage is under 25 miles per trip and under 50 mph.  My next vehicle will get well over 30 mpg in town.  I sometimes drive a F-350 Ford crew cab, four wheel drive diesel with all the options and it weighs over 7,000 lbs.  I made a conscious effort to drive 55, park where I didn't have to back up and tried to time stop lights so I only slowed down and didn't' come to a complete stop.  I got 19.8 mpg with this monster. Up from about 16-17. 

If you speed around somebody to sit at the red light and it isn't NancyII, it is me.

Granted, I check my rear-view mirror and try not to stick in front of a vehicle approaching fast, but I coast up to red lights all the time. Heck, on the flat valley floor a little momentum goes a long way!

I need to get into the habit of parking so that I don't need to back up. That's next on the list. I already park out a ways from stores so I don't have to crawl along in a line of cars or stop for pedestrians. The bit of extra walking I end up doing that way is fueled from the little spare tire I carry, so it is already paid for.

Every auto is not available with the hybrid option because most Americans won't pay for it. Plain, and simple.

And they won't pay for it because the alternative gas-guzzlers have been subsidized by the government, directly and indirectly to be cheaper.

I'm thinking along the lines of a new not common item being too expensive for some.  Similar to HDTVs and the huge drop in price in the last couple of years.  Hopefully the cost will drop enough to make it appealing. You are right. They will pay $2,000 for rims and tires or TVs and a sound system though. If it  [a hybrid option] raises the cost of a new vehicle $1,500 many wouldn't pay even if it meant the mid east drowning in oil. [

How much do the batteries cost to be replaced in those hybrids? I heard it was quite expensive!