Utah Gov. Gary Herbert wants to spend $100 million to improve air quality. Certainly it is a good idea to improve such, but it seems that the improvement can be achieved by spending far less.
According to the EPA, automobile/truck emissions account for between 50 percent and 75 percent of the pollutants causing air pollution.
Every gallon of gas saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. We also know that gasoline consumption is the result of speed and auto efficiency. Mechanical efficiency can be achieved by good maintenance of the car, including proper tire air pressure.
Reducing speed from 70 mph to 55 mph decreases fuel consumption an average of 17 percent, thus decreasing CO2 emission, which is a major contributor to air pollution. The average commute in Utah, Salt Lake and Weber counties is 5.9 miles, meaning that the speed reduction will increase the average driving time by 1.4 minutes, but saving on average 0.1 gallon (round trip) per car, per day.
That may not sound like much, but driving on average 240 days would result in saving 24 gallons, 480 pounds of carbon dioxide per vehicle driven.
One car may not make a difference, but the thousands of cars on the road each day will show results, and the cost to the state would be replacing speed limit signs and enforcing the speed limit. (It might also reduce accidents.)
Peter J. Bsumek, Cottonwood Heights
