Save Fuel

The Basics

Driving safely not only saves lives but also gas. Driving at or below the speed limit can make a substantial difference in fuel savings. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph earns a fuel economy savings of between 10 and 15 percent.

Aggressive driving burns unnecessary amounts of fuel, so a more laid-back driving style can increase fuel savings even more. Coasting to a stop and avoiding quick starts can increase fuel economy by up to 37 percent, according to a test by Edmunds.com. Watch the road far ahead, and learn the patterns of traffic lights to avoid unnecessary stops as well.

Setting the cruise control can avoid the kind of acceleration that eats up gas. Weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating can cause you to continually vary your speed. Edmunds.com reported a fuel economy increase of 14 percent just by using cruise control. Don't set the cruise control in an area with lots of hills as the constant shifting to keep a steady speed will only hurt your fuel efficiency.

It may be easier to keep the car running during short stops, but idling is essentially using gas to go nowhere. New cars don't need to warm up before driving, so there is never a need to idle. Turn off the car when stopped for more than a minute and you will see a fuel savings of 19 percent, according to Edmunds.com.

Hypermiling

In 2004, Wayne Gerdes of the website CleanMPG.com created the term "hypermiling" to describe the practices of certain fuel efficiency enthusiasts to increase the miles they get per gallon of gas. Hypermilers constantly survey road conditions and anticipate future traffic conditions to avoid using the gas and brake pedals as much as possible. They also use fuel consumption display devices to get instant feedback on their driving techniques. The devices are standard for hybrid vehicles but can be installed in most other cars and show miles per gallon readings in real time.

Ecodriving

Eco-driving is similar to hypermiling, but eco-drivers are more interested in environmental concerns than in just saving gas. Eco-drivers use many of the same driving techniques as hypermilers but also add practices like decreasing the weight load of the vehicle by not overloading the trunk or other storage areas and consolidating trips to use less gas overall. Many eco-drivers focus on maintaining air quality standards moreso than fuel economy, but the practices go hand-in-hand.