Common Sense Things We Can Do To Decrease America’s Reliance On Oil (and Save a Few Bucks) (Part 3 of 10)

Drive Smarter

Of course, trading in that gas-guzzling SUV for gas-sipping hybrid is ideal, but there are many common sense things you can do to improve your automobile’s fuel economy without going ‘granola’ overnight. The worst fuel economy you achieve is when you are accelerating. Newton’s First Law of Motion states: Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. In other words, it costs a lot of petrol to get your brick on wheels from idle up to cruising speed. Accelerating uniformly up through the gears and minimizing braking saves fuel. You may find that your brakes last a little longer too. The greatest force acting against your vehicle at higher speeds is wind resistance. Cruise at a speed that gives you optimal fuel efficiency, usually around 55-60mph (this is dependant on your automobile’s gear ratio). Other things to avoid: excessive idling, unneccesary weight, and anything that creates drag (bike/ski racks, carriers, etc.). Using cruise control during long distance driving and keeping your vehicle well maintained will also keep gas in your tank and dollars in your pocket.