Everyone worries about the problems that result from other problems instead of worrying about the root cause. I understand that gas taxes are low in the US and we are close to seeing the "real value" of gasoline in comparison to other countries. There's really nothing we can do about the price of gas at the current production rates since supply/demand just won't have it.
Consider this though: It doesn't matter if your vehicle gets 30 mpg while you're driving at 45mph, since the main contributors to low gas mileage are 1) Acceleration after a stop; and 2) Having to sit and wait at a stoplight for your turn to go. I live in Florida and the traffic systems here are notorious for having drivers hit one red light after another after another. If the county/state/federal transit organizations would just pass down an ultimatum for all traffic systems to be updated with more advanced sensing technology as well as OPTIMIZING the traffic lights in order to provide a CONTINUOUS stream of traffic flow, it would easily save billions of dollars a year in gas.
Everyone always overlooks that fact. They chase down the automakers and put undue pressure on them to bend the laws of physics and thermodynamics in order to make an even more efficient car, but a vehicle can only be so efficient. The vehicle is only one part of the overall efficiency equation. If you don't consider all factors of oil consumption such as the vehicle, optimizing the TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM, as well as educating people on how aggressive driving cuts fuel efficiency by up to 80%, then what's the point?
You can't just stick a band-aid on the situation. Fix all problems associated with the root cause, and the secondary problems will naturally be fixed as well.
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Many cities have automated complicated control algorithms that tie certain stop-light together and in addition, others have cameras on the stop-lights that automatically perform the function of 'presence' detector (say to indicate that a left turn lane is occupied) and that camera can be used for remote monitering. The traffic planners can actually watch intersections and change stop-times real-time based on load and traffic directions, etc.
The problem is, if they program to let one major thoroughfare through un-fettered, the streets that cross it take a hit with many stops. Also, they have to program for an average-speed on the 'through' street that they pick, so if you're stopped initially, you'll have to gun-it to achieve that 30-mph average between two stoplights. Also, the total cycle time for a light varies based on how many people are in the turn-lanes. This means predicting and implementing a system to sychronize lights is even more complex.
You're absolutely right about the mpg when-stopped thing. And it isn't the automaker's faults. I just think you've underestimated the complexity of programming traffic signals for a city. If you want good mpg, take a controlled-access freeway. No stoplights hopefully means no stops.