Fuel Saving Tips

Slow down earlier and coast

If you can judge the timing of a light with sufficient advanced noticed, *sometimes* it helps to brake harder earlier. I'll give an example. I have a light on my commute at the bottom of a long hill. If I keep going 55-60mph, the odds are high that I'll have to come to a complete stop at the bottom. Usually within 10-15 seconds it turns green and I'm accelerating from zero. If I see that there's a sufficient line of cars waiting for it to turn, it helps if I apply the brakes earlier. My car will slow down into the 30mph range and by the time I get near the line, the cars are moving through the light. My car just coasts through and I can accelerate from there rather than from a dead stop, preserving significant momentum. Obviously this has limited usage in stop and go traffic, but is useful for those area where stop lights are put along lesser traveled roads.