The Bush administration’s proposed rules for new fuel economy standards would have as much impact as a bug hitting a windshield: a bit messy but it won’t slow anyone down.

The new guidelines – announced last week – would create six categories for “light trucks,” which is a bureaucratic term for sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickups. The new system would have a sliding scale for expected mileage depending upon vehicle weight. However, the largest SUVs would be exempt from the new standards. As long as behemoths such as Hummers and Excursions continue to weigh more than 8,500 pounds, the rules don’t apply. Purportedly, the new rules are designed to encourage automakers to slim down their light-truck fleets, but they could also encourage automakers to fatten them up enough to qualify for the perplexing loophole.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta lauded the new standards, claiming they can save 10 billion gallons of gasoline over the life of a vehicle built between 2008 and 2011. Compare that with the 140 billion gallons U.S. vehicles consume annually – more than half of which is imported – and you begin to wonder why the administration is even bothering with this pesky gnat of a proposal.

The administration says its plan is based on a National Academy of Sciences study on technology currently available to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. But the academy says more dramatic changes are feasible without significantly sacrificing safety.

The feds’ timid plan means it will be up to the price at the pump and state regulations to spark long overdue changes in American driving habits. The average price of gasoline is about $2.60 a gallon and has topped $3 in some parts of the country. The price of crude oil is a record $67 a barrel, and some analysts see that reaching $100 at some point. Demand from the developing nations of China and India will likely keep prices high.

Meanwhile, states along the West Coast and in the Northeast are proceeding with plans to mandate cleaner-burning cars. The manufacturing changes required to meet those tougher pollution standards would translate into better fuel mileage, too.

The Washington state Legislature passed clean-car legislation that is contingent upon Oregon doing the same. California has already passed such a law. Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski appears ready to veto legislation that would prohibit the tougher emissions standards. Instead, Kulongoski is considering an administrative move to unite Oregon with Washington and California. Seven Northeast states have already passed clean-car legislation. The hope is that if enough states mandate clean cars, automakers will find it more efficient to build only those.

What’s certain is that such a scheme, coupled with the rising price of gasoline, presents more promise in forcing change than the administration’s proposal. It’s still not too late for the feds to get out ahead of a problem that is an economic, environmental and national security scourge.