May 20th, 2008 by Liz Opsitnik
There are so many stories recently on how to save money at the pump and how to conserve gas. It only makes sense, considering regular unleaded gas has made it over the $4 a gallon mark in a few states.
Two of the most common suggestions to stretch your gas tank are to slow down on the highway and stop gunning it after the light turns green. Wind resistance slows down your car at higher speeds, thus using more gas. But these were well-known facts on how to preserve gas way before prices came anywhere near their current levels.
Even though these tips are nothing new to drivers, a new study has found that people aren’t slowing down, despite their constant, incessant complaining about record-high gas prices. It seems speeding is a habit that most drivers refuse to break.
Slowing down will not only save a life, but it could also reduce the amount of money you have to spend on gas, says the new report issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
If you speed and/or floor it when coming out of a stop, you will definitely waste gas. More importantly, you increase the risk that you will be in a serious accident. Apparently, driving like a maniac and flooring that junky car with the purposely-loud exhaust is cool. I think most women would agree that it doesn’t make you look appealing, it just sounds like your muffler has a hole in it. Not attractive at all.
According to the GHSA survey of state highway safety agencies, only Wisconsin reports a noticeable trend of reduced speeds as a result of high gas prices. A handful of other states note the reduced speed of commercial vehicles, likely resulting from more trucking companies setting policies that require their drivers to stay below a set speed, such as 67 mph.
When will people start slowing down and wasting so much gas? Will $8 a gallon gas change people’s driving habits? Besides running late for something important, I’m still trying to figure out why so many drivers act like they’re always in such a hurry.
Click here to read the full article from Aftermarket Business.
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