Gas Mileage and Your Driving Habits

Did you know that your driving habits could be racking up your gas mileage? Keeping your car in good repair is the first step toward better gas mileage, but changing your driving habits can boost the savings power even more. When you take the time to think about how you are operating your car, you stand to save up to 20% more on gas mileage than with repairs alone. So next time you get behind the wheel, think about how your driving habits are affecting your gas mileage.

Accelerate Gradually
When you take off after a stoplight or stop sign, ease your foot onto the gas pedal and gradually accelerate. When you stamp your foot down on the accelerator, you use far more gas than if you slowly accelerate to your desired speed. Don't accelerate so slowly that horns start blaring behind you, but use modest pressure on the pedal and you should be all right.

Coast Toward Stoplights
Pay attention while you're driving and learn to anticipate a red light. Your gas mileage improves when you coast toward a stoplight than when you continue to give your car gas until the last minute. The same is true for stop signs and traffic ahead; take your foot off the gas and just coast in. You always burn less fuel when you coast than when you're giving your vehicle gas.

Decrease Highway Speed
Rocketing down the interstate highway at eighty miles per hour might seem like fun, and you might reach your destination a little ahead of time, but the faster you go on the highway, the worse your gas mileage. Adjust your driving habits to the speed limit on the highway to improve gas mileage and resist the urge to crank your car to the maximum speed. The same is true for country roads where you might be inclined to speed a little bit.