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Re: Proposed Government Driving Restrictions!



In article <3um8q7$jjd@news.cais.com>, elandau@cais2.cais.com (Eric
Landau) wrote:

> CVC411 (cvc411@aol.com) wrote:
> 
> : •     Increase CAFE Standards: Raise government fuel economy
> : requirements for passenger cars to 45 mile per gallon and 34 mpg for
> : pickups, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles.  Absent any technology
> : breakthroughs, the government would be forcing consumers into much
> : smaller, less safe vehicles with reduced performance.  Most models would
> : have to come without popular options such as air conditioning and
> : four-wheel drive.
> 
> History suggests that absent increased CAFE standards there won't be any 
> technology breakthroughs.

Sad but true. Unfortunately there may not be any breakthroughs even *with*
higher CAFE standards. Fuel economy can certainly be increased, but
indefinitely? I doubt it. One day, the CAFE standards will be raised to
the point where it *cannot* be done. Many politicians seem to forget that
wishing (or legislating) don't make it so.

Re safety, I would humbly suggest that perhaps in most cases the driver's
actions have a greater bearing on safety than does the size of the
vehicle.

> I love those big comfy gas-guzzlers too, 

I don't. Even the powerful ones handle like pigs and are a pain to park,
and I don't find them all that comfy; a car seat should *not* feel like a
couch. Those popular 4WD trucklets (why aren't they subject to the guzzler
tax?) add the insult of blocking everyone else's vision. Even a minivan
driver can't see over/around the minivan in front of him.

> but I wouldn't want to see my 
> kids forced to buy all their gas from the Ayatollah.

They will, just as you and I do :-(

---
Chris                                 jchill@gueuze.dgsys.com
Think I need another cup of depresso...


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