The way that you drive can make a big difference in the amount of fuel that you consume and emissions you create. Use at least three of the following efficient driving practices to save fuel:

• Choose routes that have fewer lights and stop signs. Driving on highways is more fuel efficient.
• Avoid aggressive driving. The constant braking and accelerating can increase your fuel consumption by as much as 40%.
• Drive steadily and follow posted speed limits. Driving at 55 rather than 65 mph can reduce your fuel consumption by 10-15%.
• In a manual vehicle, get into top gear quickly without accelerating harder than necessary. In an automatic, ease off of the accelerator once you gain momentum.
• Reduce your use of air conditioning. Instead try flow-through ventilation or open your windows when driving at low speeds. Driving with windows open at high speeds can actually decrease your fuel efficiency due to increased wind resistance.
• Run errands in the least amount of trips possible. Keep a list of errands that need to be done and do them during your daily commute or during a single trip.
• Use cruise control on flat sections of road but not in hilly areas.
• Remove excess weight, bike racks, and trailers from your vehicle when possible.
• Try to avoid high-traffic times of the day when planning trips.

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