The Mail-Journal, Volume 12, Number 11, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 April 1975 — Page 20

Carpools, slower speeds urged to save gas

•The American economy now consumes about 17 million barrels of oil each day. Our Inability to meet this demand from domestic supplies has forced us into increasing dependence on the oil-rich Middle East and other foreign suppliers." So says a statement from the UJS Department of Transportation, specially prepared for this supplement to present the government’s point of view on the gasoline crunch. The statement continues. Transportation accounts for nearly 60 per cent of all the liquid fuel consumed in the United States and the more than 102 million automobiles registered throughout the nation account for approximately half of transportation’s total use. Fight* inflation Obviously, increasing the fuel efficiency of our cars will go a long way toward decreasing our demand for petroleum and easing the inflationary pressure created by that demand. President Ford has established the goal of increasing the fuel efficiency of the 1980 model cars by 40 per cent over 1974 mod- ’ els. Our research indicates that the President’s goal is entirely reasonable and that the goal can be reached by the manufacturers through improved technology, engine resizing and a relatively limited marketing shift to smaller cars. Indeed, the average fuel economy of 1975 model automobiles has already brought about a 13.5 per cent improvement over 1974 models — a major step toward the President's goal. Need art ton now But President Ford has emphasized the urgency of whipping inflation now. To bank on the long range solutions of increasing domestic energy supplies and improving automobile fuel efficiency is like praying for rain while flames lick through the roof of the house President Ford struck at the heart of the matter when delivering his address on the economy last

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October he asked all of us to reduce our driving by 5 per cent in the effort to both curb inflation and to ease the energy demand. Actually, the President’s request was a modest one. Our studies indicate the average car owner could reduce his driving by 10 per cent without seriously affecting his job or living standard. Save 10 billion If that average car owner, now driving 13.000 miles a year, would cut his driving by 10 per cent he would save some 100 gallons of fuel annually. And. if the 100 millionplus cars on the road each achieved similar reductions, the savings would exceed 10 billion gallons of gasoline a year with the very significant savings in fuel cost of $5 billion. The plain truth is that most of us too casually and too wastefully use our automobiles at needless cost to ourselves and to the disadvantage of our society. Many trips are made for purposes of dubious value. And the number of worthwhile trips could be greatly reduced by better planning and organizing our daily routines. Double up, Mtve Although the typical car seats four persons, its urban work trip occupancy averages only 1.4 persons. This statistic tops all others in supporting the charge of waste and inefficiency in the national transportation system. Raising the occupancy rate nationwide to an average or even two persons per automobile would save an extraordinary five billion gallons of gasoline a year. We at the Department of Transportation have placed top priority on encouraging greater nationwide participation in carpooling. Our theme: “Double Up America — Two Can Ride Cheaper Than One." The reduction in the use of fuel that a concerted national carpooling effort could bring about would significantly ease a major inflationary pressure on

the economy. Additional goals that carpooling can help achieve are reduction of urban air pollutlon and an easing of traffic congestion on the streets and highways in and around our cities. Slow down How we drive should rank with where and when we drive in any consideration of the ways a driver can save fuel. Just how much can be saved by avoiding excessive speed

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will vary from car to car. but tests indicate that a 25 per cent improvement in fuel economy is a reasonable expectation when highway driving is reduced from 70 to 50 miles per hour. Another way to conserve gasoline is to make sure all vehicles are properly maintained. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports “keeping an automobile tuned up can, on the aver-

age, improve fuel economy six per cent as compared to an untuned auto.’’ Could destroy country In delivering his economic address to the nation last October. President Ford said, “Inflation, our public enemy number 1, will — unless it is whipped — destroy our country, our homes, our liberties, our property, and finally our national pride — as surely as any wellarmed enemy.”