Do you drive slower since the price of gas has gone up?
By Uroborus
@Uroborus (908)
Canada
August 11, 2008 1:47pm CST
It is very well known that driving slower improves gas mileage. If you double your speed the horsepower needed by your car more than doubles. The exact response is different for every car, but the general idea is the same. For example, an SUV going at 50 mph uses about 20 horse power, while at 100 mph it uses about 100 horse power.
This isn't something that I considered much when I drove. Judging from the way people around where I live speed, it didn't seem like most people gave it much consideration either. Until recently that is.
Lately, I've reduced my speed. I've also noticed that traffic in my area has fewer speeders lately. If the others are like me, then the thing that did it was the increased gas prices.
Have you considered slowing down in order to get better mileage?
4 people like this
21 responses
@lannaxe96 (62)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I agree. Is your time not worth anything to you? More importantly, if you are driving 55 mph on the speedway, you're one of those drivers I can't stand getting behind. Most speedways like I-4, I-75, etc have speed requirements of 65 mph or above.
The slow drivers are the ones causing road rage and horrible accidents. If gas prices are that important, travel less, buy a more fuel efficient automobile, walk, ride a bike, and turn in you overly expensive SUVs that not only pollute the environment but use ridiculous amounts of gas that often lead to shortages for the more penny concious consumer.
I wish I had a sign every time I drove by someone with a SUV that said "How much did it cost you to fill that beast up? or "How's the mileage on that thing"?
I understand that people with children need vehicles to transport their rugrats around but, there are other vehicles they can choose to drive besides SUV's.
Don't even get me started on soccer moms!
@RevSkull (271)
• Tokelau
11 Aug 08
A recent episode of "Mythbusters" showed the difference between driving passively and aggressively and it took about a third less gas to drive passively. I no longer am able to drive but my wife has always been cautious. She now is trying to use slower acceleration from stops and trying to consolidate shopping for groceries, etc. to one stop. Unfortunately, this means more shopping at Wal-Mart.
Wouldn't it be a great world if we could all just decide to "Work Harder" whenever we needed more money? Nobody would have to go without if they just worked for what they wanted. No more poverty or disease...oh my!
@prncesssly (1373)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I have not changed the way I drive, since gas has gone up. Actually, I've become very fortunate because my company has agreed to let us work from home 3/5 days a week, so I don't burn/buy nearly as much gas as I did before.
My drive to work is 25 miles each way, so I was filling up my tank at least once a week. Now that I only go into the office 2 days a week, I fill up half a tank every week. It's definitely helped me save some money!
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
11 Aug 08
Driving slower is a minimal way of saving on gas.
I think that slow driving or trying to drive less pales compared with an effort to make more money to buy the gas you need.
Its always best to try to meet needs than to cut back on them.
@Uroborus (908)
• Canada
11 Aug 08
The option of making more money isn't really an easy one for most people. But even if you did, why just waste that extra money on gas?
Let me give you an example.
The average car is 21% more fuel efficient at 55 mph than at 70 mph. Now, if you don't do much driving, then it's not a big deal. But if you do about 5,000 miles of highway driving a year (not unreasonable for many people). The driving at 55 istead of 70 will save you 21% on gas. This amount to hundreds of dollars in savings and the only effort is to lift the foot off the pedal a bit and arrive at your destination a bit later.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I have been driving slower too. I normally drive at least 5 miles over the limit, but have been driving steady at the limit lately. And if the people around me are going a tad bit slower (which a lot of people are now) then I don't get all frantic to pass them like I used to. It has made a tiny difference in my gas - .25 mpg. But, I figure every little bit helps!!!
@shana123 (2095)
• India
12 Aug 08
I never know driving slowly will reduce the usage of gas.. and my uncle usually has bad time often buying gas for his car... i should first call him up and tell him to drive slowly yes he drives fast but not harsh driver.. we use petrol here what about petrol does this tip holds good for this too?
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
12 Aug 08
Dear friend,
I drive as usual and price of fuel is bit increased and even though some more money is spend from my side. May be taking vehicle has become a practice for me. I often forget that fuel price has been increased until mostly I read to fill fuel or gas. Still my driving style or taking my car to any place has not changed.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
12 Aug 08
Hi Uroborus, I have found that it does make a difference, so we are now driving slower. It may not save a lot of money, but it does save some, and when someone is retired and on a fixed income as I am, it all adds up. I believe that most people are still driving at the same speed, at least in the area of the wold where I live. The price is oil is dropping on the world market lately and hopefully we will soon see a difference at the pumps. Blessings.
@fwangaa (3057)
• China
12 Aug 08
no.somebody no.i have no car,and nowdays,some person have car ,he must be have a lot of money and not mind the increace little money for gas,and many manager and leader who has car is belongs to company,he doesn't mind how many money he cost,because he cost the company's money.
@buzzmaker (630)
• India
12 Aug 08
I don't think that driving slower has anything to save of gas or any fuel. In fact driving slower than a particular (recommended) speed could keep the engine running for no reason and could even be a waste of gas.
Also, driving slower would not give a good millage. The key to save on gas is to drive lesser and user more of public transport.
@lchiat (1070)
• Malaysia
12 Aug 08
Hi. Nice to meet you here. Have a nice day!!! Ya. I drive slower nowadays. I drive 60km/h only. Cause heard from a lot people that it can save fuel. So i try it. It really works. It save quite a lot. Last time i need around rm50 for 3 days now i can use up to 1 week. So it really help me save up my fuel. You can have a try too. Happy myloting!!!
@ultrakingkong (2)
•
12 Aug 08
i totaly agree with u but fast drivers r not concerned with milleage or price raise.as far as my driving is concerned i drive the way i like. whateever the time demands or the need is.
@wachit14 (3595)
• United States
12 Aug 08
I don't drive slower as I was never one to exceed the speed limit any way. I do drive less and I do try to consolidate all my errands so I'm not running all over the place. I also use cruise control on the highways as that helps save a little on gas and I keep my tires properly inflated and my tank as close to full as possible. All these little things add up to saving on gas.
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
11 Aug 08
Well I dont drive that much but when I do I use my moms hybrid so luckly for me I dont have to worry about paying for gas. But I have notice more people are driving slow on the highways. I know my dad drives slower then he usally did before gas was so high. Im pretty sure its because he wants to save on gas.
@doomstay982 (239)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I always stared drive around 45-55 miles on the road and 55-up on on the free way
@highlyclever (1111)
• United States
11 Aug 08
A friend of mine was telling me that he had been keeping track of his gasoline in the tank and the difference that it made between traveling at 55 mph vs 60 mph. In the long run, 5 mph is not going to make that big of a difference (unless you are traveling 500 miles or something like that...) - so I have been setting my cruise control a little bit lower in order to save on the gasoline, too.
@skenthal (1020)
• Turkey
11 Aug 08
i was actually also was driving slow because it was also expensive in turkey before the prices has gone up i m driving wolksvagen polo and in turkey they fill the full tank for like 70 dollars before the prices gone up no they fill the full tank for 80 dollars :( really expensive
