WE MUST CURB OUR ENERGY APPETITE

The energy power balance has shifted to the Middle East who produce out of 700 wells what it takes the United States to produce out of 500,000. As transportation consumes sixty percent of liquid oil in the U.S. it is essential that transportation cut down on energy consumption to aid energy independance and to ease the energy shortage. One way of doing this is to cut back on private use of the automobile. The public must be made to see the seriousness of fuel shortages. If the average car owner reduced his driving by ten percent this would be a substantial overall savings. The 55 m.p.h. national speed limit must be enforced not only as a major fuel saving device but for safety sake. Secondly, the automobile industry must produce fuel efficient cars. The third criteria is to make alternatives to the automobile, such as mass transit viable. The Secretary of Transportation emphasizes that there are limits to what can be expected from mass transit because it can only realistically service a part of the commuting population. The technology involved makes most rail systems impractical in comparison to buses which are an unattractive alternative to automobile users. Also some areas are building guideway transit systems as economic boost to their urban centers and not to meet transportation or energy goals. The automobile will continue to be the major means of transit and as such must be made more compatible with the future of urban areas. One way of achieving this is through better bus systems. The Secretary also poses some questions on highway financing.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00410721
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This article is adapted from a speech given by Secretary of Transportation Claude S. Brinegar at the annual meeting of the Highway Users Federation held recently in Chicago.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Safety Council, Incorporated

  415 North Michigan Avenue
  Chicago, IL  United States  60611
• Authors:
  • Brinegar, C S
• Publication Date: 1975-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • Traffic Safety (Chicago)
  • Publisher: National Safety Council
  • ISSN: 0041-0721

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile industry; Bus transportation; Commuting; Economic efficiency; Energy; Fuel consumption; Motor vehicles; Ownership; Public transit; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00084298
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 22 1975 12:00AM