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Health & Fitness

4 Surprising Ways to Save Money on Gas

Driver safety tips for saving gas and maybe shave some points off your license...

There’s no getting around the price of getting around in your car on Long Island. According to CNNMoney, the average American family spent $368 per month on gasoline in 2011—that’s almost 10% of the average household income. While personal spending on gasoline varies by a number of factors including the type of car you drive, where you live and the number of miles you travel, it is still a significant, unavoidable spend that can seriously impact your wallet.  I know...the Long Island Rail Road and bus service can replace many of our trips, but when public transportation is not an option, here are some simple tips.... 

You may think you’ve heard all of the ways to save, but our AARP Driver Safety program has four fuel-saving tips that could surprise you.

Improve your aerodynamic efficiency. One of the simplest ways to save on fuel is to roll down the windows, instead of running the gas-eating air conditioner. But at certain speeds, rolled-down windows create an aerodynamic resistance that your car has to work harder to overcome, thereby reducing your fuel efficiency. Once you’ve hit 55 mph or higher, it’s actually more efficient to roll up the windows and turn on the AC. To lighten your load and improve your vehicle’s aerodynamic efficiency even more, remove unnecessary racks for luggage, bikes or other equipment.

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Alter your route. After a long day, most of us want to get home as quickly as possible. Driving can be stressful, and most of us don’t want to spend more time in the car than necessary. But changing your route could make a drastic difference on your average gas spend. According to Car Talk, the longer route is often the better choice—if it is a flat drive. Accelerating to go up hills can take a toll on fuel efficiency. Taking the longer, flatter route can save you up to 20% in fuel economy.

Fill up at the right time. Gas prices fluctuate daily and even hourly as station managers compete to get the most business. Statistically, Wednesday is the best day to fill up your car—and any weekday is better than the weekend, when gas prices are at their highest. It is also best to fill up in the morning, before 10 a.m. Gas station owners are more likely to hike up the prices between 10 a.m. and noon after checking the competition.

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Calm down. Aggressive driving, in addition to being incredibly dangerous, can cause serious damage to your fuel economy. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that aggressive driving behaviors like accelerating rapidly, weaving between cars and frequent braking can lower your mile-per-gallon by up to 33% on the highway. Try taking deep breaths, keeping a relaxing scent in your car or listening to soothing music to stay safe on the road.

For more tips on how to stay safe (and save money) on the road, consider taking a driver improvement course, such as the AARP Driver Safety course, available in a classroom or online setting, in both English and Spanish. In New York you are eligible for an insurance discount upon completion of the AARP Driver Safety course.*

For more information, visit www.aarp.org/safedriving or call 1-888-AARP-NOW (1-888-227-7669).

In honor of Black History Month anyone can take our online course for only 5 dollars through the month of February.  Now come one...5 dollars now can save you hundreds in car insurance costs or shave off some of those points you got racing down the LIE.

 

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