Driving into Salt Lake one morning, I decided to try an experiment. I decided to drive right at the posted speed limit the whole way in  —imagine that — and count both how often I passed other cars and how often I got passed.  Between Exit 99 and the Redwood Road Overpass, I was passed 36 times, while my little Corolla passed one semi, one UTA bus, and one guy fixing a flat. Now, lest you perceive this letter as a self-righteous diatribe, allow me to confess that I am just like many of you who set the cruise control between 80 and 83 until just before 5600 West, and then reset the cruise just a smidgen below 75 for the rest of freeway trip in. So where am I going with this? Are high gas prices killing you like they’re killing me? I’m guessing the answer is yes. So here’s a little friendly advice from a recovering speedaholic: If you’re averaging between 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit from Tooele to Salt Lake, lowering your speed to the posted speed limit will likely save you between 5 and 8 gallons of gas a month — or at current gasoline prices, between $17 and $28 a month, depending on the size and type of vehicle you’re driving. And if my math is right, it will put about six minutes onto your commute round-trip. For more tips, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.
Gary Swan
Tooele