Winter Driving Tire Tips: If You Drive In the Snow, You Should Get Snow Tires

Winter is fast approaching here in the Pacific Northwest, and like many other northern portions of the United States, that means inclement weather is fast approaching. In many areas, the winter months are characterized by cold temperatures and the occasional snow storm. And in certain parts of the country, the snow and ice comes fast and furious.

There are a number of factors to consider when making your plans for winter driving. Depending on the usual weather in your area this winter, you might be considering snow tires. If you think you will be regularly driving in icy, snowy conditions, snow tires are probably your best bet. If your area’s winter is a bit milder, with only a few light, scattered snowstorms – then you might try to get away with all-season tires. But these tires do not perform as well as snow tires in conditions of heavy snow and slush.

Tires may be the most important part of your vehicle from a safety point-of-view, particularly when conditions are less than ideal. Without adequate tire grip, many important vehicle safety features are rendered useless, such as antilock brakes, all-wheel-drive and electronic stability controls.

What exactly are snow tires? Well, they are tires specifically designed with tread patterns that grab ahold of the snow and ice. Snow tires are also manufactured with a special compound that enables them to be more flexible than normal tires under cold conditions. These factors combine to improve grip and handling when stopping and steering when the road is slick.

All-weather tires are designed for a variety of conditions, including dry and wet roads. Compared to snow tires, all-season tires don’t perform as well in extremely cold environments, nor do they have as good a tread when it comes to particularly slippery conditions.

The benefit of all-season tires versus snow tires is that you don’t need to swap them out as the seasons change, because snow tires are not really designed to be used year-round. If you try to use snow tires in the summer, they will wear out very fast, rendering them less effective come winter.

The downside of all-season tires is that, while it is convenient to have one set of tires on your vehicle all year, these tires aren’t really optimal for any particular season, only adequate. Though you have to buy two sets of tires, you will get better performance year-round, if you go with a snow tire in the winter, and regular tire in the summer that will afford you a smoother, quieter ride.

Other factors to consider when purchasing snow tires include:

• If you are going to be making a lot of trips over very icy roads, you might consider installing “studs” on your snow tires, which are sturdy metal points inserted into the tread to give the tire an even better bite of the road. In most areas with harsh winters, studded snow tires are legal and available (though you should double check this). Studded snow tires MUST be removed at the end of winter, however, or you will be in violation of most local laws, as studded tires can be hard on the road during non-winter conditions.
• If you are going to take the plunge and get snow tires, you must get a complete set. Buying only front or rear snow tires is a bad idea that will defeat the entire purpose of snow tires. If snow tires are on the drive axel of the vehicle, but not on the other, it results in unequal grip that will increase spin outs and slide offs.
• Snow tires aren’t going to eliminate skidding on ice and snow, but they can reduce the risk. Naturally, you are going to want to drive according to the conditions, and slow down and drive defensively when the conditions are particularly harsh.
• Just because you have a 44 or all-wheel drive vehicle, doesn’t mean you don’t need snow tires. In fact, driving an SUV or other four-wheel drive vehicle in the winter without proper tires can be even more dangerous, because the 4WD gives drivers a false sense of security. Without winter tires, heavy 4WD vehicles have a very difficult time stopping.
• There has been much advancement in snow tire technology in recent years. Once, snow tires were terribly loud and led to a bumpier ride. These newer compounds are much quieter and smoother than the snow tires of a couple decades ago, while being just as effective in achieving acceleration and braking in snow and ice.
• When you get your snow tires installed and begin driving in adverse conditions, take extra time to getting a feel for the new handling traits. The traction characteristics will be much different than your normal tires, so caution should be taken to ensure that you are familiar with the new tires.
• It’s best not to wait until the conditions are already icy and snowy to install new snow tires. Like all tires, snow tires are comprised of multiple layers of various compounds and thus require a break-in period before maximum performance is achieved. It is best if you put about 100 miles on your snow tires on dry roads, so as to get the most out of them when on snow and ice.

A Beginners Guide to Jump Starting a Car

For many people, especially women, the thought of jump starting a car is unnerving. In most cases, the fear of getting a vehicle started using jumper cables has to do with being shocked but it is also because of lack of knowledge. Although there is a right and wrong way to start a car this way, the process is nothing to fear. With the information provided, people will see this is not as difficult or scary as initially thought.

Importance of Learning

 
Everyone who drives should learn how to jump start a car but also have a pair of jumper cables in good condition in the trunk. Although this is something that drivers do every day, it is amazing how many drivers have never even tried to get a car started using cables. In addition to the obvious, learning to jump start a car is important specific to safety. Having jumper cables and knowing the right way to use them greatly reduces the risk of a driver being stranded, possibly in a higher risk area.

If someone is old enough to drive, it would be beneficial to learn basic car care and maintenance. Having general education about various things that could go wrong with a car not only reduces possible risk but also creates a sense of pride and accomplishment. Most people who have made the effort to learn proper car care are surprised that what was believed to be extremely hard was actually not that much at all.

Using Jumper Cables

 
The first option for jump starting a car is with jumper cables. While an individual could experience a shock by mishandling the cables, if each step is followed correctly, this seldom happens. Following are the specific steps a person would fall to get a car started:

• The vehicle with the dead battery and the vehicle that will be used for the jump need to face each other closely but without touching although the exact position of each battery would determine the best way to align the vehicles. For instance, if both cars have the battery on the right side, the cars would still face each other but slightly angled so the jumper cables can reach without being stretched.
• The ignition in both cars should be turned off and parking brakes set. Even if the jump will take place on a flat road, experts still recommend setting the emergency brake for added safety.
• The battery terminals for both vehicles should be clean. However, any visible dirt or corrosion, which often looks like white hardened bubbles, should be brushed off. Although not mandatory, it would help to keep a jump starting kit in the trunk of the vehicle to include the jumper cables but also rubber gloves and a wire brush. If a person does not have gloves, any corrosion that comes in contact with the skin should be rinsed off with water right away.
• While holding the jumper cables, the tips, regardless of side or color should never touch since this is what causes sparks to fly. Keeping the tips separated, one black and one red would be used for each vehicle. On the car with the dead battery, the red cable would be connected first to the positive side of the battery, which can be identified by the letters “POS” or a “+” sign. Next, the red cable would be connected to the running vehicle, following the same steps.
• With this done, the black cable would be connected first to the running vehicle by using the negative side of the battery identified by the letters “NEG” or a “-”sign. The other black cable would be attached to the car with the dead battery, again going through the same exact steps.

We want to point out that some people will connect both red and black cables to the vehicle with the dead battery first, followed by attaching the red and black cables to the running vehicle. Although this way is not wrong, top automotive experts recommend using the steps outlined above, stating this is the safest and most effective method.

• With the jumper cables securely attached to both vehicles, the engine for the car with the good battery would be started. For the quickest results, the cables should stay on for several minutes before trying to get the other car started. If the vehicle wants to start but hesitates, rev the engine of the car with the good battery while turning the key again. When a battery is extremely low, jumper cables might need to be left on for five minutes or slightly longer.
• Once the car starts, the cables would be removed but this time, the black jumper cable should carefully be removed from the running car, followed by the black cable being removed from the car that was just jumped. Next, the red cable would be disconnected from the running card and finally, the red cable taken off the battery terminal of the jumped vehicle.

It is also important that once the vehicle starts, the engine should not be turned off for at least 30 minutes to allow the battery to recharge. Usually, after jump starting a car it would restart easily but again, only if the battery was given the 30 minutes to recharge. However, if for some reason the vehicle’s engine will not turn on, there could be a problem beyond the battery that would need to be checked out by a trusted mechanic.

How to Drive in Snow Without Crashing

Probably the most difficult and certainly the most dangerous conditions that the average driver regularly has to contend with is snow. Should you live in an area with annual freezing Winters, there a number of simple things that you can do to greatly reduce the chances of you getting into a collision.

Winter Tires

Regardless of how many articles you read about correctly driving in snowy weather, you simply cannot handle ice without adequate grip. Adequate grip can only be found in tires that have a thread depth of at least 6/32inches. You may notice that your apparent all weather tires don’t possess such a depth and that unfortunately means that they do not possess enough grip to handle the roads on a snowy day. You’re only option for adequately handling ice is tires that are designed specifically for the purpose, they are imaginatively named Winter tires.

Winter Lights

When I say Winter lights, I don’t mean that you actually need to equip your car with new lights, rather that you both drive with front lights that are on and that are cleared of any snow. When driving in snowy conditions, you really want to have as few unexpected things on front of you as possible and short of beeping your horn like a madman on the way to the shop, keeping your lights on at all times is the best way of achieving this.

Plan your Route

This of course is not completely possible but a large portion of the danger involved in driving to work in the snow can be avoided with a few minutes of thought before you set off about where you should and should not drive. If you have lived in an area for enough snowy Winters, you are likely to be aware of the places that tend to get the most ice. Simply avoiding such areas could be considered the most effective tip on this list.

Leave as Much Time to Stop As Possible

As you are likely aware, stopping in a hurry on an icy road can at times be impossible. Regardless of the tyres that you are using or how good of a driver you consider yourself to be when it comes to driving in snowy conditions, the easiest away to avoid having an accident is to simply leave ample space between you and other vehicles. You never know when they will have to stop in a hurry and it is also worth noting that regardless of whose fault a collision is, the driver of the car behind is always the one that has to foot the bill.

Don’t Drive Blind

One of the key aspects of driving safely in Winter conditions is to take all necessary precautions before you set off. You need to make sure that your visibility is near perfect when first setting out as it is only likely to get worse, not better as you drive.

• To start with, you can get rid of all condensation by turning the heater on. This should be done a few minutes before you start your journey and you should not turn it off until you reach your destination.
• When it comes to the outside of your windows, you not only need to make sure that they are clear but also that they will remain so. Always test your windshield wipers before leaving home and carry both an extra pair and extra wiper fluid should you run out. This may sound unnecessary but you certainly wouldn’t think so if you found yourself attempting to drive through snow without working wipers.

Don’t Over Steer

Finally, if you do get into a sticky situation and you find that your front tires have lost their grip, the first thought that enters most peoples minds is to attempt to turn. This will almost always make things worse however because once your front tires regain their grip, they are likely to jerk in the direction that they are currently pointed in. Therefore always try to change the direction of the steering wheel as little as possible when you find that you have lost your grip on the road.

6 Things To Remember When Stopped For DUI

Getting pulled over by the police is an embarrassing and annoying disruption to a journey, with many drivers being surprised to see the flashing lights of the police car in their rear view mirror. In fact, some drivers may hear sirens and assume that they are meant for someone else – even attempting to get out of the way – because they believe that their driving is impeccable. This is representative of the power of alcohol and the affect that it has on normal judgment, which can be refuted with the use of video evidence that can be captured by the dashboard cameras in police cruisers.

Keep Calm and Pull Over:

The moment a driver recognizes that the police are pulling them over; they should remain calm and immediately stop the vehicle at the next available safe spot. This must be undertaken without any sudden and/or dangerous maneuvers or stopping in the middle of the road. Virginia attorneys, The Wilson Law Firm offer the following advice for drivers ordered to pull over ‘failing to stop, attempting to out-run the police or continuing to the intended destination because it is close are all foolish moves that must not be attempted unless the driver actually wants to turn what could be a routine stop into serious jail time. It is prudent to switch off the engine and stay in the vehicle unless instructed otherwise.’

Show Documents Only When Asked:

Although it is commonplace for a police officer to request the driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance on approaching the stopped car, do not reach for it until asked. Patrick C Cummings, a DUI lawyer in Virginia further advises that the sight of a driver reaching for something from the glove compartment or center console, for example, could be considered a threat and the officer could react accordingly by drawing their gun. Similarly, do not take off the seat belt as it could be assumed that it was not being worn in the first place, which is an offence in itself and can attract a fine.

Answer When Questioned:

The police officer will confirm the reason for the stop and this may often be followed by a related question, for example, ‘I’ve stopped you because you were driving a little erratically – have you had anything to drink tonight?’ Give an unambiguous response without lying, as this will only lead to further problems. However, the driver should avoid volunteering information, such as in response to the question ‘do you know why I stopped you?’ This could serve to draw attention to an infraction that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. Instead, if the driver answers that they do not know why they have been stopped, they will place themselves in a position of waiting to be told. With the vehicle documentation and license, the officer will be in a position to complete a background check that will reveal any outstanding warrants or expired vehicle tags that could result in further charges being brought.

Always Undertake Field Sobriety Tests If Asked:

No matter whether the response is positive or negative, the officer is likely to proceed with field sobriety tests to confirm or refute their suspicions in determining whether a DUI offence has been committed. It is essential to listen to the police officer’s instructions carefully and to follow them to the letter rather than attempting to anticipate what the officer expects. If questions arise, avoid speaking over the officer to voice them as this can be considered a sign of intoxication. Similarly, complaining about having to undertake the tests or insulting the officer will not offer any benefit and may result in a label of refusing to cooperate. This will be taken into account should the DUI charge reach court and can worsen the overall punishment.

Don’t Try To Trick The Breathalyzer:

Depending on how well the field sobriety tests are completed, a breathalyzer may then have to be used. It is futile to attempt to trick the breathalyzer by sucking or merely pretending to blow as the machine is sensitive and specifically calibrated to detect the pressure of a stream of breath before analyzing it to determine whether it contains any trace of alcohol. Refusing to submit to a breath test will usually result in an immediate arrest as it will be presumed that the step was taken as a result of the driver being guilty and not wanting to incriminate themselves.

If You Are Arrested:

In the event that the breath test comes back positive, an arrest will ensue and the driver must cooperate fully to prevent making matters worse. A charge of resisting arrest will exacerbate an already bad situation. At the police station, there will be a wide range of other information required and it must all be given freely and immediately to avoid spending more time in the cells than is necessary.

Every driver that is brought in on a DUI charge will get the opportunity to contact a DUI lawyer. This should be taken the moment it is allowed, which will enable the driver to contact a legal professional who is well versed in the statues related to drink driving.  Remember though, each state sets their own laws, so always contact a lawyer within the state in which you have been arrested.  If you are charged inVirginia, then contact a Virginia DUI lawyer for example. Being able to relay each step of the stop will give the lawyer the best chance of limiting the punishment and ensuring the best chance of beating the charge.

3 Inexpensive Ways To Pimp Out Your Ride

It seems as though the type of car you drive says a lot about who you are and what youre all about. So why wouldnt you want your car to simply scream, Im awesome!?

Its a pretty safe bet to say that this is what everyone wants. We pick a car to give off a certain vibe about ourselves and our lifestyles. Unfortunately, if youre still driving around that old clunker you got as a hand-me-down in high school, youre not saying much for your own case. To add to the pain, you dont have the money you wish you had to truly pimp that old thing out.

Well, change all of that now while you still can with any of these 3 inexpensive ways to pimp out your ride and make it almost as awesome as you are without spending your entire life savings.

Sport Rims

One of the easiest ways to make an old car look just like new is to put on a new set of rims.

When youre shopping around for rims, its important to take a few things into consideration. First off, think about whether you will be installing them yourself or if youll hire a pro to do the job. If its a DIY project, you can probably spend a little more money on the rims themselves because youll save in labor costs.

On the other hand, if youre hiring a pro, opt for some rims that they have on-hand at the car shop. Theyll likely be sold as a bundle with the labor to install them, so youll be able to save some money.

Look for sport rims that match your tastes and ones that will match your car design. You can choose from a variety of different color, sizes, shapes and even extras like motion within the rims themselves. Keep them within budget and putting on a new set of rims can go a long way in pimping out your old, clunky ride without totally breaking your bank.

Custom Exterior Lights

How boring can the plain old headlights and taillights that your car comes with be?

Change all of that up by putting in your own custom exterior lights. There are tons of options available on the market all you really have to do, at most, is replace the light bulbs and the light coverings, so its a job that you can absolutely do yourself and wont take you long at all.

The hardest part will be shopping for what you want. You can choose any shape, size or color you wish so be wise in your choices. You dont want them to look tacky, you want them to look classy! You dont necessarily have to match the headlights to the taillights, but you should at least try to stay consistent with the design and theme.

For example, if you have silver headlights in the shapes of tear drops on the headlights, you should at least keep the same silver color in the back.

A simple home installation after the shopping ought to do the trick. And just like that, your car will be even further customized to your tastes and you wont have spent more than about $300 or so.

Custom Paint Job

Perhaps the simplest thing you can do to customize your clunker is to treat it to a new, custom paint job. This is one thing that you will, in fact, want to have professionally done so as not to have a fake- or cheap-looking car when all is said and done (DIY jobs are very noticeable when it comes to your cars paint job).

Choose a solid color to keep your car looking classy, or if youre looking for something a bit sportier perhaps, consider a couple of racing stripes or even a cool design on the sides (dont overdo it, though, and try to avoid the tacky-looking flames). Whatever color or design you choose, try to keep it consistent with the rims and the headlights that youve chosen so your car is one cohesive custom design.

Call your local auto shop (preferably one that specializes in detailing) to get some ideas for price points for a custom paint job. Some jobs can run you up several thousand dollars, but a solid color with a few coats of paint should stay under $1,000.

It may be slightly more expensive than other bank-saving options to customize your car, but its one of the most dramatic instant changes you can make if youre unhappy with the peeled, multicolored look of your old ride.

How To Stay Safe On The Road?

There are a lot of dangers on the road, both common and uncommon but how much of a distracted driver are you? Were going to go through a few of the ways to combat some of the more common issues when it comes to staying safe on the road.

Whether youre driving a car, scooter or bike, there are some basic things that you should be not doing. You cant be stupid and drive while intoxicated or otherwise distracted (this means no talking on the cell phone, no texting all the obvious stuff).

There are also common practices that you should be doing, like wearing a helmet or seat belt. But there are a few things that may slip under your radar when it comes to driving safely.

Stay Awake

If youre tired when youre driving, that can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. Maybe not completely, but being tired while driving can drastically alter your driving habits. A study conducted recently found that 20% of all accidents have drowsiness as a contributing factor.

Obviously, if you fall asleep at the wheel, you are going to drift off the road and run into any number of things, from phone polls to ditches and trees. But that isnt the only dangerous thing about driving while tired.

Especially driving on the highway when youre at the speed of traffic, your reaction time needs to be at pace with everyone else. When youre tired, thats not going to be the case. Even a few seconds inattention can spell doom for you and any passengers that you may have in your car.

Watch the Weather

This may be an obvious way to stay safe, too, but people dont always abide by it. Just because you have a car that has its snow tires on or is 4-wheel drive doesnt mean that you can drive the same way that you would in perfect weather with perfect roads.

Be considerate of the obstacles put before you any weather means youre at higher risk for distraction (because it requires even more attention, if possible) and consequently, more accident prone. Any kind of weather means that there are more factors affecting your driving that are out of your control. And that isnt anything that you can change.

Youre going to want to maintain extra space between you and the car in front of you, be careful around curves, and drive below the speed limit if necessary. And a special note if you pull off to the shoulder of the road to wait out the weather turn off your lights, especially in fog or snow, as other cars will be looking for lights to follow, and may not realize that you arent moving until its too late to avoid collision.

Three Second Rule

We all learned the 3 second rule when we were in driving school, years and years ago but some of us disregard that rule in the fast lane just because we need to get where were going and we dont care if were tailing the car in front of us.

Its not just annoying to the other driver, its not safe for either of you. The reason the three second rule exists so that you can have enough time to properly react if the car in front of you stops suddenly or makes a sharp turn, or do something unexpected on the road. And if you arent far enough behind them, youre probably going to cause a collision yourself.

For those of you that need a refresher, the three second rule is quite simple. Find a stationary object in front of you like an exit sign or a mile marker and when the car in front of you passes it, start counting. It should be 3 seconds between when the other car passes the object until when you do.

Assume Everyone Else Is An Idiot

Its true one of the biggest dangers to you on the road is other people. You cant control what theyre going to do, and you cant read their minds. You dont know if they actually know the traffic laws, if they are actually going to be turning just because their turn signal is on.and the list goes on.

If youre particularly concerned about the other drivers on the road and the damage that they could do to you and your car, you would do well to sign up for a defensive driving course.

Maintain Your Vehicle

This is another pretty straightforward safety tip, but its not just yourself that you need to keep at attention on the road if your car isnt responding properly, the three second rule may not help you avoid an accident, or the weather could cause even greater issues with your car.

Make sure that your car is up-to-date and actually read your owners manual to see what should be done on your car and when.

What do you find are your biggest distractions when driving and what do you do to combat them?

Smart Safety Tips for the Driver that Multitasks

Driving is almost a necessity these days, especially in more metropolitan areas, or in states where needed services are far from residential areas. If you feel you have become slack in knowing the regulations or maybe you recently relocated and need a refresher course in driving safety, find the office of motor vehicles, take note of when the next class is, and sign up. As you peruse the following tips, please be aware that they may not appear in the order of greatest importance, but it is safe to say, the top two should come first in anyone’s book.

Always Alert

Always stay alert! Which means, among other things, don’t drive one more mile; you will be taking your life and the lives of others. This would be an avoidable accident. In addition, when you are mentally distracted for any reason, you tend to assume other drivers will do what you think they will do. If you even assume the driver in the silver car will be passing you, and you pull out of the intersection too soon, you are a target.

Phones Inaccessible

Along with keeping alert, there is absolutely no way to be aware of everything going on if you are on the phone, whether talking or texting. Technology is amazing and helpful when used the right way at the right time; while driving it is unsafe. It can be the direct cause of horribly serious accidents. As an example, an SUV was coming through a residential intersection at the posted rate of speed, but as reported, the driver glanced down at the phone “just for a quick look” and within seconds her passenger died when the vehicle struck a signal light pole. That side of the car and the pole collided in such a way as to even cause a fire at the scene. This was an avoidable accident.

Rules of the Road

Know the rules of the road in your area. Usually they are the same all over the country, but occasionally a few will be a bit different. However, posted signs notify drivers of speed limits, parking regulations, when it is permissible to turn on a red light, and more.

Yes Chemicals = No driving

Another sure bet, is avoid ingesting chemicals and then driving. It’s certainly no imposition for you to stay at someone’s home overnight while sobering up. Of course you could always stay at a police station. In fact this author is even against designated drivers; you are in no condition to know if that person is actually sober enough to drive either. It’s much better to stay put and avoid an accident.

Working Good

Keep your car in good working condition. Know as close as possible, that your tires are safe, the battery has enough charge, the lights and wipers are operational, the brakes respond quickly to your tap, there is adequate fuel, and all seatbelts work correctly. These are the things that come to mind, but others may be of equal importance.
 

Good Attitude

No matter what, maintain a good attitude. Allow time for “Murphy’s Law” to occur; where if anything can go wrong, it will…and it will happen to you while you are on the road. If you have an appointment, leave in plenty of time. Do not leave at the time of your appointment and expect all to go well en route. If you have budgeted your time well, you will easily arrive still having a good attitude.

A Safe Driver?

These are but a few suggestions for safe driving. In my quest for the top five or six, another tip came to light. Libraries often have videos on safe driving habits; they would be free, and you could even make a “movie party” out of it, that way others would also benefit. On the subject of driving, my grandmother used to say, “If it ain’t horses, it ain’t safe.” But sometimes even horses refused to obey, especially when the driver wasn’t being safe!

9 Top Tips For Cheaper Driving

One of the most common things motorists complain about in Britain is money. The costs of insurance, the cost of tax, the cost of maintenance and of course the cost of fuel are motorist’s favourite topics of conversation. Whilst driving is by no means cheap there are plenty of things you can do to bring the costs down. Sensible driving will be rewarded with lower insurance premiums. Economical and smaller cars pay less road tax with some cars being produced these days that are tax exempt. Regular maintenance and services will stop any major problems developing.

When it comes to fuel there are lots of things we can do to make sure we’re not donating too much of our income to the forecourts.

Tyres

The condition of your tyres can have a huge impact on how fuel efficient your car is. Under inflated tyres use much more fuel than if they were inflated to the right pressure. You need to be careful though as over inflated tyres have less grip on the road which can be deadly in poor weather conditions. You also need to check the thread too, legally you need at least 1.6mm but if they’re starting to go bald they’re not going to be as fuel efficient as they could be.

Weight

The amount of weight you’re carrying around will affect how much fuel you’re using. This doesn’t mean you don’t let any fat people into your car but take a look at how much junk is in your actual trunk. If you’re carrying around a boot full of coats, shoes and paper work then you’re going to be paying more at the pumps. If you’re going away and you have a full car you need to adjust the tyre pressure accordingly (the recommended volume will be in your hand book) but once your car is empty again you need to fill those tyres back up.

Speed

This one really isn’t rocket science but if you’re right foot is a little heavy then you’re going to be using more fuel. The most optimum speed is 50mph in fifth gear. Of course this isn’t always going to be practical, try doing 50mph on the motorway and you’re going to end up annoying everyone and in a residential area 50mph can get your licence taken off you.

Type Of Car

It might be impractical to get rid of your car purely because you want something more economic but next time you’re car shopping, fuel efficiency needs to be near the top of your priority list. Look for the miles per gallon the car claims it can do and if you’re buying second hand always ask. Do you research; fuel efficiency is often one of the key selling points of new cars these days so you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find it.

Shop Around

Petrol and diesel prices can vary by a few pence between forecourts just a few miles away from each other. Always make a mental note of the petrol stations you pass on the way to work each day. Pumps attached to supermarkets and pumps in busier cities and towns will be cheaper than stations out in the middle of nowhere. Never leave it till the warning light comes on, you want the luxury of choosing your petrol station, not having to go the closest one.

Air Con

There are plenty of little luxuries in cars these days that make driving so pleasant, cruise control, DVD players, MP3 radios and air con. Air con is a pain for drinking your fuel. If you’re driving at speed and it’s a hot day it’s not practical to open the window (plus the drag would drink petrol too) but if you don’t really need it on, turn it off and the same goes for any other gadgets and gizmos you have on the go.

Route Planning

You’ve got your sat nav and your smart phone, it’s not like you can get lost but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put some human thought into your journey. Check traffic reports before long journeys for any large jams or road closures. Being stuck in traffic is just wasting fuel. Any diversion signs will take into account larger vehicles that might need to follow them. If you know the road well enough you could find a quicker, more fuel efficient route through the quieter roads.

Accelerating And Breaking

This may surprise a lot of people but accelerating into the boot of the car in front then hitting the breaks over and over isn’t necessarily going to get them to speed up or pull in and let you past. If you know there’s another roundabout or set of lights in a few hundred yards don’t accelerate too quickly. The harder you accelerate and break the more fuel you’ll use so drive with as much consistency as possible.

Top Gear

The higher the gear the more fuel efficient your car will be, this doesn’t mean you should accelerate as quickly as possible to get into a high gear (see the point above) but if you’re driving at 40mph or more you should be in fifth gear and when you break always work your way back through all the gears rather than keeping your foot on the clutch as your come from fifth down to second.