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The AAA Companion
July | August 2005
Volume 79 Issue 4
Volume 79 Issue 4
Thirty years ago, President Gerald Ford was in office, the age of disco was about to begin, the speed limit was 55 mph, and Americans were driving Pacers and Gremlins. What we drive, how we drive, and the conditions under which we drive have changed dramatically since the '70s. What difference does that make? Plenty, when it comes to the mileage sticker on the window of your new car. That sticker says "Your mileage may vary." What it should say is "Your mileage will vary" because the federal government uses lab tests designed in 1975 to estimate gas mileage. The 30-year-old tests assume a constant speed of 45 mph, wrongly estimate average trip lengths, and do not take air conditioning into account — all factors that affect your actual gas mileage. The estimates that these tests produce can be as much as 30% above the reality.
Consumers expect accurate information when making purchasing decisions. With gas prices climbing higher, many drivers are frustrated when they realize they are simply not getting the gas mileage they were told they'd get when they bought their car.
AAA has found this to be true during its testing of hundreds of vehicles each year. In many cases, our testers had difficulty reaching even the lowest estimate posted on the sticker. AAA's tests replicate the everyday experiences of today's motorists — stop-and-go traffic, highway driving, shorter trips, even putting groceries in the trunk. While not intended to be scientific, these tests probably provide consumers with a more accurate mileage rating than what they see on a sticker in a show room.
To address this situation, AAA is supporting H.R. 1103, the "Fuel Efficiency Truth-in-Advertising Act." This federal legislation requires the Environmental Protection Agency to update its testing procedures to reflect real-world circumstances. Motorists who value fuel economy should be able to rely on accurate information on the mileage sticker.
There's no harm in being nostalgic about the '70s. But, in this case, consumers would benefit from the federal government getting with the times.
For more details, go to AAA's legislative action center at www.aaa publicaffairs.com.