saving gas, one drop at a time

As I drive around town - and, admittedly, it's less and less these days - I am continually amazed by those who tear past me to the next stop light in a rush to get there from here, those who take off like the proverbial bat out of hell from a stop, and those who wait til the last possible minute and step hard on the brake pedal.

Certainly they are finding the cost of a fill up as painful as I do - aren't they?

There are simple techniques everyone can use to get the most out of a gallon of gas. Slow acceleration, gradual stopping, and driving highways at 55 rather than 65, 70 or faster can prevent reducing your mileage by up to 33% on highways and 5% around town. Do you really need to be there in such a hurry?

Keep tires inflated to the proper pressure and the vehicle well-tuned. Remove that excess weight. Stuck at a light you know to be ridiculously long? Turn off the engine if it's safe. Using cruise control, which keeps the vehicle at a constant speed, helps to save gas. Be sure to replace the air filter regularly, and use the recommended grade of oil.

Plan your trips in a circuitous manner, and try to make as many right turns, so as to avoid waiting for lights, as possible. Careful planning, to minimize trips to the grocery, bank and other errands, will keep pennies in your pocket, rather than in the gas tank.

Lastly, get onboard actions supporting alternative fuel sources. The solution to the current gasoline pinch isn't digging for more oil, but rather finding ways to reduce our dependence on it by encouraging and supporting the development of alternative fuel sources. My pet project currently is the Pickens Plan. It's not the only answer, but it is a big step, and we can use as many efforts to create alternative power sources as possible.