Traffic Jam by Kevin Casper

Every day millions of Americans get behind the wheel of their cars and drive to jobs, to home, to vacation, or even just to the cruise night along the local main street. What many don’t realize is that how they drive can play an integral part in how we affect the environment. There are a number of things that you can do right now to help keep your car running smoothly and reduce your overall impact on the environment.

Before Driving the Car

One of the easiest things that you can do to help keep the environment and your car’s efficiency in good shape is to keep your tires properly inflated. Properly inflated tires not only last longer, and safer, but they can improve your gas mileage by nearly 1-2{5b6c00ae8a31f44c65b344f315968efbd322bfc6ea45e4e8cca9716c4473fad8}. It might not sound like much, but it can really add up over the long term.

Also, it’s important to check and change your air filters regularly.- usually every 4-8 months in most cars. By keeping the air filters in good shape, you can often stop impurities from damaging your engine, and leading to an exhaust which can contribute to more pollution. Also, consider planning out the shortest route to your destination before you get started, or combining errands. You’ll not only save time, but you’ll also save gas, energy, and reduce the amount of exhaust you send into the air.

Also, consider traveling light. The less stuff you take in your car on your trips, the lighter you’ll be. The lighter your car, the less fuel you’ll have to use to get to your destination. Also, resist the urge to pile everything on the top of your car with a roof rack. This can add significant drag on your car, which can hurt your gas mileage.

While You’re Driving

If you’re driving long distances, and you have it, take advantage of your cruise control. This helps you maintain a constant speed, and allows the engine to use the fuel when it needs it. This allows for more efficiency, and you guessed it better fuel consumption. Also, try to avoid idling for too long. Let’s face it, no one wants to sit in bumper to bumper traffic, but when it comes to the environment, thousands of idling engines are one of the worst things imaginable. If you can, keep your car moving along low-traffic routes, and moving at a safe speed.

Also, if you’re prone to road rage, consider taking measures to get it under control. Aggressive driving wastes a ton of gasoline, and can lower your mileage by over 30{5b6c00ae8a31f44c65b344f315968efbd322bfc6ea45e4e8cca9716c4473fad8}!. Quick starts and stops, acceleration and race car-like driving can often lead to inefficient fuel usage, damage to your engine, and more emissions into the environment.

By keeping these few driving tips in mind, you can easily help to save the environment. It may seem like a small amount, but every little bit does help.