TIGERHAWK LOOKS AT GASOLINE PRICES AND BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, and doesn’t find much of the latter. “When I pulled on to the New Jersey Turnpike I set my cruise control at 66 mph (substantially faster than I would drive — 55 or so — if I wanted to maximize my fuel economy), got in the right lane, and started counting cars that passed me. I was passed by more than 40 cars before I came up behind another vehicle going more slowly than me, and it was a step van trying to exit. I gave up counting when more than 100 cars passed me without me passing anybody. At 66 miles per hour.”

Yeah, I noticed that people weren’t slowing down much this weekend — and where they were it seemed more connected with the heavy holiday-weekend police presence in a few areas than with fuel-saving, because once the cops were gone people sped up again.

UPDATE: From the comments: “Virtually nobody is willing to substitute their time for the money they would save slowing down, and several have offered very cogent economic reasons why they would not. It is a little indication of the enormous cost to the economy and to our personal freedom imposed by the government actually mandating a 55 mph speed limit.” Plus this: “It is a really big freaking country out here. I wonder sometimes if they realize that, back in DC.” No, they travel by jet, preferably Gulfstream. . . .

ANOTHER UPDATE: Montana reader Tom Pfister emails: “I just finished a long weekend visiting my 87 year old father. 700 miles each way. I will NOT drive 55 as it is a nearly 10 hour trip now, with gas stops, road construction, etc. The fools in DC really do not know (or care) about the flyover country. Even our elected reps barely visit, and they FLY FREE.” Yes, I can think of no measure more likely to stir up populist resentment of Washington.