Who knew easing off the gas pedal could be one of the easiest money-saving tricks around? A new study finds that sticking to the speed limit saves drivers fuel and cash while adding less than a minute to the average trip. Researchers say the payoff is much bigger than most people would expect.
Researchers analyzed 120 million real-world trips across the U.S. and found that drivers could collectively save about $22-million and 6.7-million gallons of gas just by following posted speed limits. The environmental benefits are significant too, with slower driving preventing about 57-thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions every day. According to University of Minnesota professor William Northrop, "Driving fast is easier than ever," but slowing down is a simple way to reduce fuel use without replacing your vehicle.
The research explains why slowing down may be worth considering:
- The average time saved by speeding is less than one minute.
- Following the speed limit can reduce fuel costs and lower emissions at the same time.
- The findings are based on large-scale, real-world driving data rather than laboratory estimates.
- Researchers plan to continue the work by studying how both speed and aggressive acceleration affect fuel use and emissions using specially equipped electric vehicles.
Sometimes the smartest shortcut is not speeding at all. Not only is it better for the environment and will save you on fuel costs, but it could also keep you from getting a speeding ticket.
Source: LiveNowFox