Are you willing to drive slower to save gas money?

[Fern]

People have a lot of ways to save on their gas money, but i don't see anyone (except me) driving more slowly on the highways.

I try to resist the temptation to be a lead foot and try to drive at 60 to 65 and people of course whiz right by me.

More so than anything else, driving more slowly can save you on gas money. So, how 'bout it? Could you? Do you?

[Coleroo]

I do... I try to keep it at an even keel, and I can't stand it when my hubby romps down on the gas (my car is a gas hogging automatic SUV while his is a very gas friendly 40mpg stick). I try to keep it on cruise control and slow take offs.. not sure if it truly helps, but it makes me feel better haha

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Fern

try to drive at 60 to 65

If you are doing 65, you aren't really saving much. You'd need to slow down to 55 to see a big difference. Isn't that why the national 55mph was instituted - to conserve fuel?

Personally, I do the speed limit plus 5mph, whatever that happens to be.

[sakigt]

I have. And it works!

I used to get 20 mpg, slowed down a bit and got 21mpg.

Now, keeping it under 2500 rpms (usually going about 60mph) Ive managed 24 mpg mixed!

The PT Cruiser turbo is rated at 17/23 so Im very pleased

[autoxer]

Nope.

My username refers to my auto racing hobby. I have way too much fun burning gas. But I don't race on public roads. I just drive the speed limit +5 or 10.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

If everyone else were slowing down, I would gladly do so, even on long interstate trips. I will not slow down in situations where the highway is crowded and others are not slowed down. Too dangerous for the lane changes it stimulates others to make.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Um, no, i just can't help myself.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Joan.of.the.Arch

If everyone else were slowing down, I would gladly do so, even on long interstate trips. I will not slow down in situations where the highway is crowded and others are not slowed down. Too dangerous for the lane changes it stimulates others to make.

Good point. I had the same thought. Going less than 70 in a 65 zone around here is dangerous, even in the right lane. Go less than 65 and you better have your flashers on and hope nobody rear ends you.

[PrincessPerky]

nope...sorry car time is a waste..kids strapped down, no freedom to move or interact with much, almost as much of a waste as sending em to school to be restrained in a seat all day.....

However I do recommend my husband avoid 'gunning it' just for the sake of getting all the way up to that red light/traffic jam/stoplight or whatever. slowly but steadily we make it all the way up to a nice comfy safe speed. So long as the car is well under control I don't complain.

[Ima saver]

I never ever drive over 55. We also never go on the interstates either. When I want to go somewhere, I want to enjoy myself and drive slow.

[project15]

I used to get 25mpg in my turbo car. I've since slowed on the acceleration and also slowed down my highway speed and now get 29mpg. I've been experimenting with the last 2 tanks of gas so far.

[Ima saver]

My speedometer goes up to 200 mph, but I never go above 55 mph.

[Jenniflower]

I try to keep my speed around 55-60 mph. .....except when I'm late!
Then I'll be passing everyone!
Also, if I feel that I'm in the way and traffic is slower because I'm in the right lane going 55, I'll speed up so people don't get ticked off.

[sweeps]

I agree with PrincessPerky here. I don't have all day to pokey around the roads. I always go 5-10 over the speed limit and I would gladly support raising the speed limits on most roads. (25 mph in a residential area is fine... but 35 mph on a 4 lane divided highway?? Come on...)

Also it aggravates me to no end when people take forever to go on a green light and s l o w l y get up to the speed limit. For areas with congestion (like mine) I am certain that much more fuel is being consumed because of all the people that have to keep sitting at the stoplight because of that person.

[cptacek]

I'm trying to not do jackrabbit starts anymore. And I use the cruise control, but I do go around 5 mph over the limit, and I put bigger tires on my pickup, so that is actually a little more than that. But, I am also trying to not step on the brake as much...if there is no one around me, I'm trying to coast instead of braking. But, if I am in traffic, I don't do that.

[tabbycat31]

Sounds ideal, but around here, it would just cause traffic problems, and you would be a danger to other drivers.

A few years ago, I was wtih a (former) friend driving home from Boston. She was going 45 MPH on the Mass Pike. I thought I was going to get killed by her driving.

[Aleta]

I've read that to be gas effecient, that you must drive at least at 35 MPH. I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel like my cruise control uses up more gas. I have a Honda Civic and that might make the difference. It just seems to gobble up the gas when you turn it on or you have to deexcelerate, or go over a small hill.

[fultron]

I've tried to get into the habit of driving more conservatively, slower starting and stopping, etc. Less wear on the brakes that way too.

[AngeloAntonino]

If I wasn't worried about fuel costs my car would have a V8 instead of a 1.3litre 4 cyclinder. Even with a car the size of a pimple, I still restrain my driving to lower fuel consumption.

[sweeps]

How about instead of driving slower -- check out public transportation, carpooling, bicycling, telecommuting. That's going to save a lot more money (and be better for the environment) than slowing everyone on the roads down.