Libertine: On the Prowl

Vidi, vici, veni -- I saw, I conquered, I came. _______________________________________________________________

Driving Like It's 1975

12:20, 2008-Jun-29 .. Posted in rants .. 4 comments .. Link

When I'm out driving my car around town, I've noticed that most drivers around me drive as if gas is still fifty cents a gallon. Either unaware that gas is now four dollars a gallon or simply not caring, I see other drivers making little or no effort to drive in ways that would make the most of their gas mileage.

Most people drive as if the speed limit is merely a suggestion, and a bad one at that. Their egos compel them to drive as fast as they can possibly get away with at all times, even when they're not in a particular hurry or running late to get somewhere.

They hurry up to red lights, then jam on their brakes at the last possible moment. When the light turns green, they jam the pedal to the floor with jackrabbit starts. They weave in and out of traffic so they can get to their destination 30 seconds faster. It's important to hurry, you know! Even when you've got no particular place to go and no particular time to be there.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend any more money at the gas station than I absolutely have to. I've got other things to spend money on than gas. I like taking my car onto the highway and driving fast, just like the next guy, but at four dollars a gallon, it won't hurt my ego any to drive the speed limit in around-town driving.

Of course, I get laid regularly, so my ego doesn't need propping up by trying to turn quiet residential streets into Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Your mileage may vary, of course.
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10 Gas Saving Tips

1. Don’t speed.

Driving 65 mph instead of 75 mph will increase your fuel economy by about 10 percent.

2. Avoid "jack rabbit" starts.

Flooring the gas pedal wastes gas and leads to drastically higher pollution rates.

3. Anticipate stops. (Don't hurry up to red lights)

Think ahead to anticipate stops so your vehicle can coast down. Accelerating hard and braking hard wastes gas, increases pollution, and wears out your brakes.

4. Keep your tires properly inflated.

For every 3 pounds below recommended pressure, fuel economy goes down by about 1 percent.

5. Avoid rush hour, if possible.

Stop-and-go driving burns gas and increases emissions of smog-forming pollutants. For hybrids that can stay in electric mode at low speeds, the effects of stop-and-go driving are greatly reduced.

6. Travel light.

An extra 100 pounds in your trunk reduces fuel economy by about 1 percent.

7. Combine trips.

Warmed-up engines run more efficiently and generate less air pollution.

8. Leave off the air conditioning, if possible.

AC increases fuel consumption, increases smog-forming NOx emissions in some vehicles, and can involve environmentally damaging fluids. At high speeds, open windows increase drag; use vents if possible. (I must admit this isn't one I follow -- I can't stand being hot. But I try to follow the others as much as possible, so I don't feel guilty about this one).

9. Check your own fuel economy every few weeks.

If you notice the numbers slipping, then think about how your driving might have changed, and consider getting a tune-up or an oil change.

10. Drive less.

Give your car a rest by taking public transportation, riding a bike, or walking. The exercise will do you good.

Leave a Comment

Untitled Comment

02:28, 2008-Jun-29 .. Posted by texican
I generally follow those rules. With my car, there's not much choice, anyway.

I was thinking about the last time we had an energy crunch. I wondered why the government hasn't re-instituted the 55mph speed limit. Since the price of oil is being blamed on everything from speculation to demand, wouldn't it make sense to start removing "demand" from the equation?

The local news program that I watch listed some stats where, compared to 2006, miles driven in Oregon dropped by over 1%. Ok...so people are starting to drive a little less but, as you pointed out, most of them still drive inefficiently.

Untitled Comment

12:36, 2008-Jun-30 .. Posted by littleMissConfused
There was a story in the news around here of a guy that got a ticket for driving 55mph in a 65mph zone! He said he was driving slow to save fuel. The cop said he was a safety hazard!

Hubby started taking my van since it gets better gas mileage then his truck. He only runs the air conditioner when I am with him...open windows and long hair can make for an interesting hair style when we reach our destination!

Once I'm back to work, I'm probably stuck with his truck. My drive is way shorter then his!

Untitled Comment

02:10, 2008-Jun-30 .. Posted by DeeJay
My sis-in-law and I were recently talking about this. She says she's been driving slower and noticing she's not being passed like she thought she would be. I have slowed down myself and forced myself to learn to make less silly trips into town than I used to. I cringe whenever I am buying gas now and we haven't hit the $4 mark yet!

Untitled Comment

09:36, 2008-Jun-30 .. Posted by texican
I'm not sure whether there's a minimum speed limit around here, but Texas has one for safety reasons. I think it's 40mph.

I don't know if that cop was following the law or just being a jerk.