Drive 55 Conservation Program Launched

For Immediate Release

April 28, 2003

"Drive 55" Conservation Program Launched

"Recognizing our contribution to unhealthy air, water, neighborhoods, a sustainable future and world peace, We Do Hereby Pledge to obey posted speed limits and never to exceed 55 MPH, in order to conserve fuel, reduce pollution, make our lives safer and disarm the petroleum bandits!"

With increasing evidence of climate change due to Global Warming, booming sales of bottled water, more people using bicycles & public transportation, declining natural resources and pre-emptive military aggression, we are pleased to announce this simple program anyone can easily share in.

Our goals are to reduce consumption of petroleum for transportation by at least 20%, which will forestall environmental consequences, begin restoration of a healthy environment, improve human health & safety, decrease traffic congestion and accidents, reduce our reliance on imported petroleum and disarm the war machine.

Studies show that driving 65 MPH uses 20% more fuel and contributes 56% more VOCs, 153% more CO and 10% more NOx emissions.*

Slowing down to 55 MPH will add just two minutes to an average ten-mile trip to the store, bank or workplace. If you commute 30 miles you will only add five minutes to your half-hour drive!

Please join in our effort to 'leave a lighter footprint'. Visit http://www.Drive55.org to learn more and to take the pledge to obey existing speed limits, never exceeding 55 miles per hour.

Get more details and Take the Pledge today at http://www.Drive55.org.

* VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) are toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, and are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects.

CO is poisonous even to healthy people at high levels in the air, can affect people with heart disease & can affect the central nervous system. Carbon monoxide is harmful because it reduces oxygen delivery to the body's organs and tissues. It is most harmful to those who suffer from heart and respiratory disease. High carbon monoxide pollution levels also affect healthy people. Symptoms may include visual impairment, headache, and reduced work capacity. Unlike many other air pollutants, carbon monoxide levels in the outside air typically peak during colder months.

NOx is one of the main ingredients involved in the formation of ground-level ozone, which can trigger serious respiratory problems, reacts to form nitrate particles, acid aerosols, as well as NO2, which also cause respiratory problems, contributes to formation of acid rain, contributes to nutrient overload that deteriorates water quality, contributes to atmospheric particles, that cause visibility impairment most noticeable in national parks, reacts to form toxic chemicals, contributes to global warming.