Should we raise fuel-efficiency standards? Everyone's in favor of better mileage for cars. The issue is whether the government or the market should set the standards.

YES

America's family cars and trucks use a lot of oil--more than 8 million barrels every day. That makes us too dependent on suppliers in unstable, unfriendly parts of the world. Rising oil prices are also a drag on the economy, and a problem for families. What's more, the pollution from vehicles causes global warming and heath problems like asthma.

In the 1970s, oil shortages led to the first fuel-efficiency standards, which saved a lot of oil. At first, the standards made a difference, but then came SUVs, which use a lot more gas. SUVs were originally for farmers and other people at work, so they were classified as "light trucks" and allowed to have lower fuel efficiency. But now many families drive SUVs like cars, and our nation's overall fuel economy has gotten worse, not better.

Improving fuel efficiency performance to 40 miles per gallon--from today's 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 21 miles per gallon for pickups and SUVs--would save 2 million barrels of oil each day. That's about the amount we now import from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. We can do it with technology already on the road today, like the gasoline-electric hybrids.

But it won't happen until the politicians in Washington and auto-industry leaders in Detroit decide to make it happen. We need to raise fuel-economy standards and give incentives for consumers and companies to adopt more efficient technology. This would save money, improve our national security by lessening our dependence on foreign oil, and lead to a safer, healthier environment.

--Daniet A. Lashoff Climate Center Science Director Natural Resources Defense Council 

NO

The Unites States faces real energy challenges, including foreign-oil dependence and climate change. But raising fuel-efficiency standards won't solve our energy problems. It will only limit consumer choice and make driving less safe.

America now imports 10 million barrels per day of oil, half of what we use. By 2015, the Department of Energy expects imports to grow to 15 million barrels per day. Increasing fuel-efficiency standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2015 would reduce oil use by only 2 million barrels per day. We would still be more dependent on oil imports in 2015 than we are today.

Some argue that burning oil, which releases carbon, contributes to climate change. Whether or not this is true, a 2-million-barrels-per-day reduction in American oil use would cut global carbon emissions by only 1 percent. Most future carbon emissions will come from developing countries like China and India, not from the U.S.

In 1975, Congress passed a law effectively doubling the number of miles per gallon vehicles must get. But this improved efficiency came at a high cost. A National Academy of Sciences study concluded that the improvement came mainly from making cars lighter and smaller--and therefore less safe. The study estimates that the standards cause 1,300 to 2,600 additional traffic deaths each year.

Most Americans buy cars that balance efficiency, performance, safety, and cost. People have a right to choose the car that is best for them. Tighter government efficiency standards will do more harm than good.

--Bruce H. Everett Professor of International Business The Fletcher School at Tufts University 

Fuel Efficiency
(miles per gallon)

                       CITY  HIGHWAY

FORD EXPEDITION (SUV)  14    18

HONDA ACCORD           24    34

TOYOTA PRIUS           68    51

SOURCE: FUELECONOMY.GOV [FIGURES FOR 2004 MODELS]

Note: Table made from bar graph.