The price of Gasoline is rising faster than
a runaway kite. What you can do to save a
little money..
Desperate to Ease Pain at the Gas Pump? Here’s
How (ARA) - Can’t recall the last time you paid
less than $40 for
a tank of gas? You’re not
alone. With prices
already topping $4 per
gallon in places
like Chicago and New York
City, and demand
expected to rise this summer,
you may be willing
to try just about anything
to curb gas consumption
and costs.
“It’s possible to
improve gas mileage
in
virtually any vehicle,”
advises Bill Schumacher
, an automotive expert
with NAVTEQ, a leading
global provider of
digital maps for
vehicle
navigation. “You
can improve your
vehicle’s
gas mileage by making
some simple changes
to the way you travel.”
Better Driving Equals
Better Mileage
One of the most important
thing you can do
to improve your gas
mileage is to simply
drive smarter. That
means staying within
the speed limit,
avoiding aggressive
driving,
and braking and starting
smoothly.
“Being a polite driver
isn’t just a nice
thing to do, it can
help you conserve
gas
and save money,”
Schumacher points
out. In
fact, Edmunds.com
tested the theory
that
moderate driving
could result in improved
gas mileage and found
that moderate driving
reduced gas consumption
an average of 31
percent, with lower
speed driving saving
an average of 12
percent.
Use cruise control
whenever possible
on level
highways, but avoid
using it in hilly
roads
where it forces the
engine to labor to
maintain
speed. Instead, maintain
speed going up the
hill and remove your
foot from the gas
pedal
on the downside,
allowing gravity
to do the
job of moving the
car. Edmunds found
that
smart use of cruise
control improved
gas
efficiency an average
of 7 percent.
Prior Planning Prevents
Poor Performance
“Driving lost can
lead to backtracking,
excessive
idling and unnecessary
miles – all major
gas wasters,” warns
Schumacher. “There’s
a reason why the
big transport companies
like FedEx and UPS
pre-plan drivers’
routes;
knowing where you’re
going ahead of time
means you’re less
likely to waste gas
driving
aimlessly.”
For daily driving
tasks, compare routes
to
see which one is
likely to save the
most
gas. Remember, the
shortest distance
is not
necessarily the best
gas-saving route.
Idling
– the kind you would
do in heavy stop-and-go
traffic – can consume
up to a gallon of
gas
or more per hour,
according to Benjamin
Jones,
co-founder of the
Web site Ecomodder.
You
may save gas with
a route that is slightly
longer in miles,
but where less traffic
allows
you to keep moving
at a consistent,
moderate
pace.
If you’re planning
a long summer road
trip,
or even just heading
somewhere new locally,
make sure your route
is as direct as possible.
Consult a map or
the Internet. If
you have
a newer vehicle,
use your in-dash
navigation
system, and if you
don’t have one, consider
investing in a portable
device. Those devices
offer a lot of information
on your favorite
brands, whether it’s
coffee, gas or a
hotel
chain you seek, your
GPS device will help
locate and identify
a smart route.
Because traffic conditions
change daily,
be sure you’re using
the most current
information
available. Update
the map on your on-board
navigation or handheld
device by logging
on to www.navteq.com
and visiting their
store.
Or use www.traffic.com
to get information
if you don’t have
a navigation system.
The
site can also be
accessed from any
Web-equipped
cell phone at http://mobi.traffic.com,
or
by calling the (866)
MY-TRAFC (866-698-7232)
traffic hotline.
Choose People Power
If you are out walking
or biking, consider
equipping your bicycle
with a carry basket.
A trip to the post
office or grocery
store
can become a cost-savings
and health-benefiting
excursion if you
bike or walk. “It’s
been
said the human body
is the most efficient
engine ever built,”
Schumacher comments.
“Walking or biking
for short trips is
the
ultimate way to save
on gas costs. Plus,
it’s good for the
environment and your
health.”
When driving, consider
wearing thin-soled
shoes or – if the
law in your state
permits
– driving barefoot.
The sensitivity of
your
skin will help you
brake and accelerate
gently,
improving gas mileage.
Make smart use of
the discounts and
incentives
many businesses are
using to win and
keep
customers. Choose
gas stations that
offer
cash back programs.
Many entertainment
venues,
hotels and restaurants
have begun offering
discounts and incentives
to reward patrons
for spending the
money on a drive
to their
destination.
Finally, use people
power to avoid long
idle
times, which can
consume up to a gallon
of
gas per hour. Stopping
at the bank, a fast
food joint or the
pharmacy? Get out
and go
inside instead of
heading for the drive-through.
“Not only will you
slash gas-wasting
idle
time, you’ll begin
working off those
fast
food calories on
the walk back to
the car,”
Schumacher jokes.
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