Drive More Slowly And Watch Your Fuel Consumption Drop

One of the biggest problems affecting many households today is how to manage their budgets with fuel costs continuing to take an ever-increasing slice off it. It was not in the so distant past that we used to go for meaningless car rides through country and mountainous ranges for the relaxation it gave us enjoying the scenery on either side.

But now the mere sight of your car can tense you up reminding you of the hard times spent near fuel pumping machines! The irony of it all is that we ourselves have allowed this problem to aggravate to unendurable proportions by just doing nothing about it. A good part of the problem could be easily solved if we make a determined effort with perhaps some insignificant sacrifices. However, as far as I am concerned, even a sizeable sacrifice is worth making if I could only pay comparatively less cash at the pumping stations and keep the excess to pay for other pressing needs. 

Increase Gas Milage Products

There are quite a number of products in the market claiming to enhance fuel efficiency; none of which are certified by the EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency). It is not known if there is any significant saving in fuel economy to justify the cost of any one of those products. So why throw more money in the dark than what we are already throwing in the light for fuel? Easing a bit on the accelerator pedal should reduce combustion of gas and consequently increase saving on fuel. Isn’t this an obvious fact? Then let us have a better look at it.

Best Speed For Good Gas Milage

Researched studies show that a more than proportionate quantity of gas will be consumed as you attempt to achieve a speed beyond 55 mph though a lot of people like to average around 65 to 75 mph. In order achieve a matter of an additional 15-20 mph over 55 mph, it would cost an additional one fifth to one fourth of the cost that you incur to drive at 55 mph; besides the possibility of earning a speed ticket that would add further to the extra cost. 

If you lack the patience to drive a little slower, let’s look at the mathematics of your attitude. If you undertake a journey of say 60 miles, you will complete it in 66 minutes driving at 55 mph; and in 52 minutes averaging 70 mph. This works out to a difference of just 14 minutes over 60 miles.

Further, driving at 55 mph, you are likely to consume 2 gallons costing $ 8, while it would cost you 1.25 times that to be driving at 70 mph, which amounts to 2.5 gallons costing $ 10, on a standard average basis. Is it worth spending $ 2 more for a matter of going 60 miles, 14 minutes earlier? What is likely to bother you is not so much the 14 minutes difference but the “humiliation and embarrassment” (as some of you see it) of others overtaking you, or the uncomfortable feeling of not being able to keep pressing hard on the accelerator.

How To Drive To Save Gas

These are merely psychological considerations of ego and pride for some only. If I were you, I would start 15 minutes early and make the trip keeping within the general speeding limits of 55 mph on highways eliminating risks of the additional time and cost of being presented with speeding tickets while minimizing risks of an accident too. With all that achieved, I would be still having an extra $ 2 in my wallet on a single 60-mile journey!

It may be clear that you need not be driving precisely at 55 mph to experience greater fuel efficiency. Anything slower than a very high speed would bring you more mileage per gallon giving you considerable cost benefits depending on the mileage you generally cover in a month. The choice is yours, but it would be beneficial for you to be aware of the all round advantages to be gained including less fuel costs, eliminating speeding tickets and ensuring higher safety by driving a little slower than what you would normally prefer.

Resources:
Drive slow to reduce fuel consumption
Driving habit to save fuel