We all know that those Americans that choose to drive big
gas-hogs like the Hummer, big Chevy and Ford Trucks, Jeep Cherokees,
Hemi-Chryslers & others, are part of our problem, not part of the solution.
If you are driving something for pleasure (not a work truck or commercial
vehicle) that only gets 15 -20 mpg combines, you are a big part of America's oil
consumption problem. You are very selfish, and usually use the rationale that:
"I can afford it- so I will drive what I want!". Or you say: I ain't drivin'
wun of them little unsafe econo-boxes!" We all know the Cash-for-Clunkers was
a disaster...giving Taxpayers dollars to those who can't afford to buy a
fuel-efficient vehicle on their own. And most vehicles bought actually got worse mpg than the clunker. Another form of Obama socialism....take
from those who have it and give to those who won't work for it...for no logical reason!
And those that know anything at all about cars know that small
does not equate with danger....those that don't know anything still say the
bigger the better. If that were true, Volvo or Acura would not be the world's
safest cars. So let's stop with the "Bubba" outlook on safety. There are some
that justify the SUV by saying they like to "sit-up-high" or just gotta pull my
boat or camper or go off-road or whatever. Stupid does as Stupid is I guess.
We here in the good old US of A must soon take a hard look at our consumption of
fuel, 'cause if we don't, the A-Rabs will, and then look out.
Most, I suspect don't remember the mid-70's oil embargo, but I guarantee you
that when the Arabs decide, there will be another...and it will be an
eye-opener.
We must begin to economize with our cars. Look around the next
time you are on the X-Way. What type of vehicle is predominant in the passing
lane? The gas-guzzlers of course...ripping along at 5 -15 mph over the legal
limit...fat, dumb and happy I callz it...with the emphasis on Dumb. Those
drivers don't give a flick about how much extra fuel they are burning. Those
of us who sit in the right hand lanes obeying the law are considered Wooses
who won't get out of the way real drivers. Never mine that we are driving
30+ mpg vehicles, obeying the law of the land, driving safely....oh
no...just-get-the-heck-out-of-my-way-because-I-am-in-a-hurry...my appointment is
more important than yours - I gotta get to church! Too bad most Xways don't have the cameras that give
tickets, because it seems the only way to get the attention of these knot-heads
is to hit them in the wallet and pull their tags for a year!
There are lots of ways to help America's oil crisis and one is
to stay on a budget. Clipping coupons and waiting for sales are good ways to
stretch your dollar, but let's face it: Gas will likely never go on sale.
While some stations offer gas coupons or promotions, they're usually too small
to really make a dent in anyone's driving budget. If gas stations aren't going
to put gas on sale, you'll have to.
No, that doesn't mean you need to using discount gas that is bad for your vehicle. But by
modifying some of your driving habits, you can increase your fuel efficiency and
use less gas, bringing the cost down. So how much can you save? With the simple
green driving tips we've compiled here, you could increase your fuel
economy (and savings) by up to 47 percent. And if you want to
decrease your fuel consumption even more, you can make some of the lifestyle
changes that we've also listed. If you are considering a new car, limit your
choices to those that get at least 30MPG combined....there are plenty of them,
just don't rely on the EPA figures. Read the real-life actual road tests and see what these
vehicle get under day-to-day driving. EPA estimates are very inaccurate and
only used by car companies to sell cars. You buy one and are expecting 32 mpg
and find your driving style gets you 20 mpg. Big disappointment I betcha! My
Dad always taught me to drive like I had a raw egg between my shoe and the gas
pedal!...it really works too....And keep your tires hard...less rolling resistance is the key. Another reason is that smaller cars use less oil to manufacture and thus a smaller carbon footprint.
The other benefit of cutting back on gas? It's better for the
environment. Better fuel economy means less pollution emitted by cars and less
dependence on foreign sources of oil. That's why these driving tips are doubly
green: Green for the planet and green in your wallet. Find out more on the next
pages.