Copyright 2000 The Washington Post
The Washington
Post
October 11, 2000, Wednesday, Final Edition
SECTION: STYLE; Pg. C04
LENGTH: 548 words
HEADLINE:
Consummate Consumer; Mileage, Fuel Costs & Standards
BYLINE: Don Oldenburg , Washington Post Staff Writer
BODY:
New car buyers will pay more than 30
percent of their car's sticker price at the gas pumps due to outdated
fuel efficiency standards, according to a new study, "Pumping
Up the Price," released last week by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group
(U.S. PIRG).
"The consumer may not even realize it," says Katherine
Abend, the global warming associate at U.S. PIRG. "Automobile manufacturers have
the technology right now to get better gas mileage."
The report
calculated how much money would be saved and global-warming pollution prevented
for each model 2000 automobile if the federal fuel-efficiency requirements for
new cars were updated to 45 miles per gallon--an 18 mpg improvement for cars and
24.3 mpg improvement for pickups, vans and SUVs that other studies show to be
attainable. At current gas prices, the study found, the outdated standards add
hidden costs of nearly $ 5,700 in fuel expenses to the average passenger car and
more than $ 6,600 to the average SUV, minivan and pickup over the life of the
vehicle. All told, updated fuel efficiency standards could save
drivers $ 80 billion a year at the gas pump and reduce total U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions by more than 1.5 trillion pounds a year.
"The problem is that
for the past six years Congress has added a rider to the Department of
Transportation's budget preventing the agency from updating the standards,"
explains Abend, attributing the freeze on the standards to pressure from the oil
industry and automobile manufacturers.
One industry objection: It would
force manufacturers to make new cars smaller and less safe. "In 1974, when the
current standards" were debated, counters Abend, "they all said we would be
driving Pinto-sized vehicles because of it. The National Academy of Science has
said we can do this without making our cars smaller and less safe. . . . and
consumers would end up saving money."
Online Restaurant Reports
On the official District of Columbia Web site (www.washingtondc.gov),
consumers can link to lists of area restaurants searchable by cuisine, location,
atmosphere. But not by health inspection ratings or reports.
At the
forefront of a consumer trend, some other cities and states are providing
consumers with online information about factors such as rodent infestations and
food poisonings, not just menus and ambiance. In New York City you can consult
the online guide (www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/rii/index.html) for health violation
"snapshots" of 19,000 restaurants, retail bakeries and take-outs. North Carolina
started listing restaurant health reports online in May 1999. Denver is taking
its health reports online this fall.
Consumer reception? When the Boston
Globe ran a page-one story about that city's new online restaurant health
reports in March, the city's official Web site got three times its normal number
of hits. "Online reporting ensures that the information is available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week," said Joe Simitian, member of the Santa Clara County,
board of supervisors whose online restaurant health report proposal passed last
month.
Got a consumer complaint? Question? Smart consumer tip? E-mail
details to oldenburgd@washpost.com or write Don Oldenburg, The Washington Post,
1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
LOAD-DATE:
October 11, 2000 
