Five driving habits to help save money at the pump

Not all gas savings comes from car maintenance or changing the way you drive. Sometimes you can make dramatic saving simply by planning better, such as combining errands into a single trip. Idling while dropping off the children at school or picking them up after soccer practice consumes more energy than shutting down the engine.

“We do know from a recent study that even for a short period of time, 20 to 30 seconds, it really pays to shut down the engine,” said Dr. David Greene of National Center for Transportation Research, based in Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “Don’t shut down in traffic.”

The following gas saving habits can make a noticeable difference in your fuel bill:

• Plan your trip. Avoid retracing your route and reduce the distance you travel. Savings come not only in fuel but less wear and tear on your car.
• Stagger your work hours. You can avoid peak rush hours, spend less time sitting in traffic and consume less fuel.
• Take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car by taking turns driving with other commuters. By having multiple passengers, you may qualify for convenient High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.
• Avoid idling when picking someone up.
• Drive within the posted speed limits. Driving over 50 mph will decrease your gas mileage and cost you extra at the pump.

“There’s still a significant penalty in fuel consumption when driving faster than the speed limit,” said Greene.