Driving More Efficiently

Sensible Driving

Driving sensibly is not only safer, but it saves money on gas. When you speed and accelerate excessively, you are actually burning unnecessary fuel. On the other hand, careful driving can possibly save up to 33% on overall fuel consumption on highways and roughly 5% when driving in the city.

One way to manage your driving habits is by using a feedback device. With this device, you will be able to see how much and often you over-brake and accelerate, as well as how often you speed. Drivers who use the device have been known to improve their fuel economy by approximately 3%, while those who use it for the sole purpose of saving gas improve by roughly 10%. This is equivalent to saving approximately $0.11 to $0.36 per gallon.

Obey Speed Limits

Generally, vehicles reach an ideal fuel economy at various speeds. However, fuel mileage declines every time you surpass the 50 mph mark. Thus, presumably every 5 mph above 50 mph is equivalent to an extra $0.24 per gallon used. In addition, the likelihood of an accident reduces when you obey the speed limit, as it is a form of defensive driving.

Cruise Control

To reduce gas consumption, use cruise controls to uphold consistent speeds during highway drives. Cruise control reduces unnecessary acceleration.

Overdrive Gears

Overdrive gears generally reduce the engine speed, which lessens gas usage. As a bonus, this reduces wear and tear on the engine.

Carrying Cargo

When carrying cargo, wind resistance increases, thus hurting fuel economy. If you plan to haul cargo, you may need a blunt-roof top cargo box. This box may actually save about 2% to 8% in the city, about 6% to 17% on the highway, and roughly 10% to 25% on the Interstate.

However, with rear-mount cargo devices, you may only save no more than 1% to 2% on fuel economy in the city and no more than 5% on the highway.

Removing the external cargo container when not in use also helps fuel mileage.

Additionally, removing any other unnecessary items on your vehicle can also improve fuel economy. For example, if you remove 100 pounds of extra load from your vehicle, you can possibly to save up to 2% on fuel economy. This may include a bicycle and a bike rack.

Reduce Idling

If your car is parked, it is best to turn the engine off. Leaving it running idle may consume up to one-fourth of a gallon per hour. Of course, that depends on engine size. So if your goal is better fuel economy, avoid idling if possible, as very little gas is used to crank the engine.

Defensive Driving

Driving more efficiently requires many elements. A defensive driving course assists many when it comes to improving driving habits. If you reside in the New York area, take advantage of New York defensive driving benefits by registering for our defensive driving course today!