Page 1 of Spain to reduce speed limit to conserve fuel to 50mph

MADRID (AFP) - Spain will lower its speed limit outside major cities as part of a string of measures unveiled by the government Tuesday aimed at slashing its oil imports by 10 percent per year.

"Every time we lift our feet off the accelerator, we are improving GDP and employment," Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian told parliament as he outlined the 31 measures. "The era of cheap energy has passed."

The speed limit will be reduced by 20 percent in line with rules already in place in Barcelona, Spain`s second-largest city, where it is set at 80 kilometres (50 miles) an hour.

Greater use of energy-saving light bulbs, reduced lighting on roads and restrictions on the use of air-conditioning in summer and heating systems in winter in public buildings are among the other government measures.

The plan for 2008-14 has a budget of 245 million euros (385 million dollars) and the government hopes it will reduce annual oil consumption by 44 million barrels.

The government will distribute 49 million energy-saving light bulbs -- two for each household -- to encourage their use and will require all government vehicles to meet at least 20 percent of their energy needs through biofuels.

It will also launch a pilot project for the manufacture of one million electric or hybrid vehicles.

All public buildings except for hospitals will be required to set their thermostats no lower than 26 degrees Celsius (79 Fahrenheit) in summer and no higher than 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in winter.

Fossil fuels currently meet 84 percent of Spain`s energy needs and the rising price of oil has led to inflationary pressures and caused the country`s trade deficit to balloon.




`i am going to live forever or die trying`

Quote:
All public buildings except for hospitals will be required to set their thermostats no lower than 26 degrees Celsius (79 Fahrenheit) in summer and no higher than 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) in winter.

Ouch toooooooooooo hot :( :(

Ma Taz

Glad I don`t work in a public building in Spain then!!!

Nick

well if another country is doing it no doubt it wont be long before our government go for it too




YNWA
A.C.C

Seems like a good idea to reduce speed limit for both petrol consumption reasons and to reduce road deaths (maybe). A lot of people dont follow the speed limit anyway so for them it wouldnt make a difference anyway.

Having just driven 1200 miles around Britain in the past week,I can safely say that reducing our national speed limit would have one of two effects.

1/ If observed, cause utter gridlock, completely negating any alleged fuel saving benefit.
2/ Increase fine-related income to the treasury as people completely ignore it anyway., as they do the current 70mph limit.

Quote:
Seems like a good idea to reduce speed limit for both petrol consumption reasons and to reduce road deaths (maybe).

speed doesnt necessarily cause accidents though, bad driving does

Additional speed will only serve to increase the risk of more severe injury / death


I remember Clarkson giving an example of the road off which he lives :

It is a 50mph road and people wanted the speed limit reducing to "reduce the number of accidents".
Per JC the accidents happened when people who know the road would overtake cars doing 50 or less because they know the road could be quicker
JC was adament that reducing the speed to limit to 30mph would more than likely see more over taking manuouevres (as he concluded that more people would then think "well this should never be a 30mph road") and probably actually cause more accidents

I can actually see his point.

Granted this does not mean that people should be speeding, or overtaking on these roads or that not reducnig some speed limits is a workable idea but in some instances reduction could cause more issues

I had to do some journies to and from Rotherham last month and on occasion on the M1 (especially in the current 50mph work zone where it is Average Speed Camera alert) I found myself continually looking at the speedo (and this happens round town too) - surely continually looking at your dash board isnt the best thing to do to avoid accidents?



YNWA
A.C.C

They did this in America a while ago to calm the uproar over their soaring petrol prices. The government reduced the pump prices but also reduced the top speed on motorways as a compromise.

"Life is like oral sex, one slip of the tongue and you`re in the s***!" - Roy Chubby Brown

I tell you another side-effect of reducing speed limits.
It would force people to take other, more polluting, means of transport.
Like aircraft or trains.
A study was done, where it was discovered a packed train from Manchester to London is more harming than if everyone on it drove instead. :D

This item was edited on Wednesday, 30th July 2008, 10:48

Quote:
A study was done, where it was discovered a packed train from Manchester to London is more harming than if everyone on it drove instead

Which study was that? Modern trains are marginally more efficient based on greenhouse gas emission and consumption of energy, but when it comes to nitrogen oxides and pollution that is actually harmful to humans they are miles ahead. This would be based on 60-70% capacity of the train too, so I`d be interested to see you source!


What I`m listening to...