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How driving slowly saves gas

by Rene Michael Browne

Created on: November 04, 2008   Last Updated: May 30, 2009

I am not the only one overjoyed that the price of gasoline has fallen. What occurred during the summer of 2008 is an experience I don't want to be unprepared for the next time it happens. I learned a lot during that time, trying different methods to limit my trips to the gas station. I am still practicing these gasoline savers and always looking for new ones. I have too, I own a huge Ford Expedition and it gets driven every day.

My new gasoline saver is driving slowly to save gas. I am trying to keep as much gasoline in my vehicle for as long as possible. I want my husband to practice driving slowly too since he always drives at the maximum speed limit. He knows a lot more about cars than I so; I had to have all the facts right to be convincing. These are the details I told my husband.

Powerful vehicle have to work hard to move from place to place. It has to work even harder due to wind resistance when driven fast. As a result, our vehicle is not working as fuel efficient as it could and therefore we get less miles to the gallon. Driving slowly, just 10 15 mph slower, would improve how our vehicle uses gasoline by an average of 17 to 30 percent.

Everyone in the fast line does not drive as fast as you husband and I notice that my husband using the brakes often. Every time he uses the brakes and then accelerate our vehicle becomes less fuel efficient. This costs us money and does not help us to save gasoline. Driving slowly in another lane will keep you from having to brake and then accelerate as often as cars move from lane to lane in the morning rush hour traffic.

By driving slowly, you could eliminate wasting gasoline in the morning as the vehicle warm up. Instead, we could just get in and while driving slowly the vehicle would warm up. Think of how much gasoline can be saved during the 10 to 15 minute morning wait.

We have cruise control but never use it . It can help with driving slowly. It will keep the vehicle at a constant speed instead of the speeding up and slowing down that happens when you are driving fast. Less gasoline wasted We would wasted by just using the cruise control sometimes.

My husband was impressed with my details and even said "I didn't know by just driving slowly we could save in so many ways". Well, my husband has not totally given up driving fast but there are times that he is driving slowly. It does take us a little longer to get to our destination but it is worth it since we save gasoline and money.

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