Gas Saving Tips
It's not only important that you keep your car running well, but that you drive it well. How you choose to get your vehicle from one place to another can have a significant effect on how much gas you use.
	Drive Wisely
	If you live near a high school, you see it every day. Teenage drivers not only cause the greatest number of accidents, but their driving style wastes a tremendous amount of gas. Rapidly accelerating and braking and darting in and out of traffic is also very hard on your vehicle, especially its tires and brakes. Accelerate at a reasonable rate for maximum fuel efficiency, and take your foot off the gas pedal when you see traffic stopping up ahead. Don't race to catch up with the traffic, only to have to stop quickly. Like a teenager.
	Speed Matters
	If you're old enough to remember the gas shortage of the '70s, you'll remember that our government imposed a 55 mph speed limit across the U.S. But this was not a very wise decision, as most cars get their best gas mileage at around 60 mph. However, most cars perform worse as you go above 60 mph, so faster is not always better. And while many cars get significantly worse mileage below 25 mph, remember not to accelerate too quickly as rapid acceleration is also very wasteful.
	Excess Baggage
	The more your vehicle weighs, the more gas it takes to get it going and keep it moving. So give some thought to what you might be carrying around unnecessarily, like your golf clubs that you only use a couple times a year. People are not excess baggage. Well, maybe your mother-in-law who talked her way into your family vacation. But the cost of carrying an extra passenger is insignificant compared to the cost of that person traveling in their own vehicle, so carpooling is always a good thing.
	Don't Leave Your Car Idling
	It takes gas to get your car started, so people often leave their cars idling rather than turning them off. But if you car will be idling more than 30 seconds, you'll likely save gas by turning it off. People have been mislead by the idea that starting their car wastes gas, and you'll often see people doing all kinds of activities while they leave their cars running, such as carrying on long conversations with neighbors while they breathe the exhaust. People also let their cars idle to warm them up on cold days because they know that they operate more efficiently when they are warmed up. It is true that they do get better gas mileage when fully warmed up, but idling a car to bring it up to its ideal operating temperature wastes more gas than it saves.
	Economize Your Driving
	It might seem a no-brainer to suggest that you use your car less frequently. But we are so used to running here and there anytime we want to do something without giving thought to cost and converstation, that we need to change our mindset. Think twice before you jump into your car to run an errand. And when you do need to run an errand, is there something else you can do so you won't need to take another trip in the near future?
	Running Your Air Conditioner
	Turn your air conditioner on when you're driving up a hill, and you'll likely feel your vehicle lag a little. Running your air conditioner uses energy that would otherwise be helping to keep your vehicle moving efficiently, so be sure to only turn it on when necessary.