| With the world's oil prices at such a high level, many | | | | percent athighway speeds to about 5 percent around |
| of us arehard-pressed to try to squeeze the | | | | town. |
| maximum work out of thepetrol or gasoline we use | | | | Observe the Speed Limit |
| for our vehicles. | | | | Research has shown that fuel economy decreases |
| Although fuel consumption can depend on many | | | | rapidly at speedsabove 60 mph. Although each |
| factors likevehicle and tire condition, road condition, | | | | vehicle will have its own optimalfuel economical speed |
| fuel used, engineefficiency, vehicle aerodynamic | | | | or range of speeds, its gas mileageusually comes |
| design, and many others, thereare a few things you | | | | down when the speed reaches above 60 mph. |
| can do to reduce the consumption simply byadopting | | | | Remove Excess Weight |
| good driving habits. | | | | It stands to reason that heavier vehicles will consume |
| Here are some tips to help us achieve good driving | | | | morepetrol or gas. While the vehicle structure and |
| habits: | | | | body may beheavy, do not make it heavier by |
| Avoid Aggressive Driving | | | | storing unnecessary items,especially heavy ones. The |
| Speeding, rapid accelerating and braking waste a lot | | | | extra weight will affect smallervehicles than larger |
| of petrol. | | | | ones. |
| What is the use of picking up speed to travel a little | | | | Avoid Excessive Idling Time |
| bitfaster and then later having to brake in order to | | | | When the vehicle is idling, it is not moving. This means |
| slow downagain, perhaps to negotiate a turn, or to | | | | thatyou get zero miles while you are burning the fuel. |
| avoid a slow-movingvehicle in front? | | | | This is notgood practice economically. All the fuel |
| It does not make sense! And yet many of us are | | | | goes to waste. |
| guilty of thishabit of impatience. A good practice will | | | | Use Cruise Control and High Gears |
| be to follow the speedof the general traffic and | | | | By using cruise control, you can maintain constant |
| drive at that speed. If the trafficis slow moving, just | | | | speeds thatwill save energy. This is similar to the |
| follow and move slowly. Similarly, if thetraffic is fast, | | | | above tip aboutavoiding aggressive driving of |
| travel faster. But always follow the vehicle infront at | | | | speeding up, accelerating andbraking. Use cruise |
| a good distant away. In this way, even when it | | | | control on the highway. |
| slowsdown or brakes, you still do not have to brake | | | | Using high gears means you do not have to rev up |
| yet, until you havemoved really close. | | | | the engines forthe same vehicle speed. The engine |
| When you brake, you are resisting the energy | | | | runs comparatively slower forthe same vehicle speed |
| already moving thevehicle. A lot of energy is | | | | compared to using low gears. This savespetrol while |
| harnessed to just move a stationaryvehicle. Once the | | | | reducing engine wear. |
| vehicle has moved, less energy is needed tomaintain | | | | When you work on your driving behavior, you could |
| its speed. But when you slow down, it again uses | | | | save quite alot in terms of fuel economy. But that is |
| moreenergy to bring it up to speed. The less you | | | | not all. You can evensave your own life by driving at |
| brake, the more theenergy you save. | | | | slower speeds, with morepatience, and with less |
| Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage by 33 | | | | stress. |