Through Better Driving Habits

Thursday, March 1, 2001

(NAPSA)—As families hit the open roads, gas prices rise in response to the increased demand. Fortunately, drivers who conserve gasoline by following recommended driving guidelines can save hundredsof dollars a year. What’s more, efficient driving can saving you even more money in the long run. Try these simple tips to squeeze extra miles out of every tankof gasoline: * Be gentle on the pedals— Avoid jackrabbit starts and sud- engine gets zero miles per gallon, so shut off your car in stopped traffic or at a crossing signal. Restarting uses less gas. Turn off the A/C—Usinga vehicle’s air conditioner on warm days can cut your gas efficiency by more than 20 percent. When the mercury tle acceleration and deceleration can increase gas mileage by as much as 12 percent. * Take it slow—At more than 55 mph, fuel economy begins to decrease exponentially as speed increases. A passenger car that gets 30 miles to a gallon of gas at 55 mph gets 10 percent less mileage—or27 miles per gallon—at 65 mph. Driving at 75 mph rather than 65 mph increases gasoline consumption by 25 percent. Of course, slowing down will add time to yourcar trips, but you can save $5 to $10 for every hour you drive. Using cruise control will eke out a few more miles per tankful as well. Keep in mind that an idling levels, roll down your windows or use your car’s flowthrough ventilation system. Using “nature’s A/C” also will reduce your 15 engine tempera15 25 35 45 55 65 75 ture and prevent Speed (mph) overheating. When driving on highJuan Thomassie ways, roll your Source: U.S. Department of Energy windows up and rely on your car’s ventilation. Open windowsat high before you get there. To learn more about energy speeds create wind drag and will issues, visit www.oil360.org, a reduce your mileage. comprehensive site hosted by These easy-to-follow tips can Sarkeys Energy Center, the Unihelp you get where you're going— versity of Oklahoma. without draining your wallet save wear and tear on yourcar, den stops whenever possible. Gen- Driving efficiently Fuel efficient driving can improve your fuel economy more than 10%. As you drive faster, aerodynamic drag androlling resistance increase. At speeds above 55 mph, fuel economy decreasesrapidly. Fuel efficiency reaches moderate MPG 25 20 Note to Editors: This is the twelfth in a series of 12 articles on America’s energy resources.

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