How to Improve Fuel Economy by Changing the Way You Drive

One of the best ways to improve your fuel economy is to change the way you drive. Speeding, accelerating, and braking hard can deplete efficiency by 33 percent. When you stop, start, or accelerate, your car has to overcome inertia. Inertia is the resistance an object has to a change in its state of motion. In order to get moving, or to stop, a car has to overcome inertia.

Overcoming inertia requires energy. When you're talking cars and energy, you're talking gas. You can use less energy to overcome inertia if you do it slowly. You should accelerate slowly from stops, allowing the car's momentum help it accelerate. Once the car is in motion, you should try to preserve that momentum by avoiding situations where it can be lost.

For example, you're driving down the road and see a light up ahead turn from yellow to red. Rather than keep your foot on the gas and brake at the last second, you should take your foot off the gas and slowly approach the light. Not only will coasting save gas, but you might not even have to come to a full stop before the light turns green again. This means that your car will have to overcome much less inertia to get going.


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Tips on Avoiding Mountain Driving Mishaps

With the weather getting warmer at the start of Spring, road trips may be in your near future. If you're going to be driving through mountain terrain, make sure to check out our tips below on how to stay alert and out of danger!

Winding mountain roads can be narrow, with dramatic curves that make it difficult to see what’s around the next bend. As a result, it’s important to take some extra precaution:

• Stay on your side of the road, and give some extra space between your vehicle and others that you’re following, since sudden stops can strike at any time.
• Mind the posted speed limits, and look for signs that warn you about the steep grades that may lie ahead.
• Avoid wrecks with wildlife by keeping an eye out for animals, especially at night.
• Make sure that you have enough gas if you’re traveling through remote areas.
• If you’re driving slowly to soak in the scenery, pull over to let faster-moving traffic pass.
• Only pass slower-moving traffic when you’ve got a clear view of the road ahead. Never pass another car on a blind curve, or when your visibility is compromised.

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Happy Birthday, World Wide Web!

The World Wide Web turned 25-years-old this week! Today, more than two people in five are connected to the web. Every minute, billions of connected people send each other hundreds of millions of messages, share 20 million photos, and exchange at least $15 million in goods and services, according to the World Wide Web Foundation. Do you remember the first time you used the internet? It's amazing to think how much progress its made over the years!

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How to Budget for Gas During Your Spring Break Road Trip

Regardless of how far you’re traveling, it’s always a good idea to make sure your car is in good working order before a road trip. The U.S. Department of Energy says things like low tire pressure and dirty air filters can reduce a car’s gas mileage, so make sure your car undergoes proper pre-trip maintenance.

In addition to making sure your car’s ready, it’s also a good idea to have a rough idea of how many gallons of gas you’ll need to get from Point A to Point B so you can estimate your gas costs. Online calculators are one good way to do this. For example, GasBuddy.com’s Trip Cost Calculator can help you estimate how much you’ll spend on gas by taking into account your route, your car model’s gas mileage, and gas prices you can expect to find along the route.

It’s nice to plan a few sightseeing stops along the way, but keep in mind that the further you travel off the beaten path, the more you’ll wind up paying for gas.

No matter how carefully you budget, it’s your right foot that’ll help decide how much gas you burn. Take a hint from the U.S. Department of Energy and go easy on the accelerator when the light turns green. Also, keep to the speed limit. Not only does this promote safer driving and more fuel efficiency, but it also helps prevent you from getting a speeding ticket!


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