Driving in the DC area is stressful due to perpetual traffic snarls and a few aggressive drivers, It is also painful to watch the wallet dwindle at the gas station! Below are some easy tips to increase the MPG and reduce stress during rush hour traffic on the DC beltway, focused mainly on driving habits:
I drive a 6 year old automatic mid-size sedan with a manufacturer's MPG rating of 26 City/ 33 Hwy. I commute 90% Hwy 10% City on an average in the DC beltway rush hour traffic. I've driven mainly on I-270, I-495 and I-95. Some positive side effect of my conservative driving are:
The Freeway Fast Lane (Leftmost Lane) Spring Effect:
Ever seen the waves in a spring?
The traffic on the fast lane of the freeway follows the same wave motion during rush hour. Most cars travel too close to each other. Once the car in front breaks, everyone breaks behind it. The same motion repeats once everyone starts accelerating. And so on....
This mostly occurs on the fast lane where the drivers are eager to accelerate quickly and closely follow the vehicle in front.
With my driving habits, I act at a buffer in my lane. This not only saves me gas, but also to a few cars behind me. There's no difference between conservation and aggressive driving during rush hour for the time taken to reach the destination.
Happy driving! Save gas! Reduce stress!
- Accelerate slowly - No brainer!
- Maintain good distance from the vehicle ahead - For safety and to avoid unnecessary breaking.
- Keep an eye on the break-lights of 3 to 4 vehicles ahead of you - If you see their break lights flash, release the accelerator.
- Stay off the fast lane (Leftmost lane) whenever you can.
- Use cruise control if possible/available.
- Remove unnecessary items from the vehicle - Hauling weight reduces the MPG.
- Let the aggressive drivers pass - Competing with speeders and lane-switchers is accident prone and increases stress.
I drive a 6 year old automatic mid-size sedan with a manufacturer's MPG rating of 26 City/ 33 Hwy. I commute 90% Hwy 10% City on an average in the DC beltway rush hour traffic. I've driven mainly on I-270, I-495 and I-95. Some positive side effect of my conservative driving are:
- 36 MPG. 3 MPG more than rated Hwy MPG.
- New car tires have lasted 80K miles with some more life left.
- Front disc break pads have lasted 80K miles with 40% life left.
- Less stress.
The Freeway Fast Lane (Leftmost Lane) Spring Effect:
Ever seen the waves in a spring?
The traffic on the fast lane of the freeway follows the same wave motion during rush hour. Most cars travel too close to each other. Once the car in front breaks, everyone breaks behind it. The same motion repeats once everyone starts accelerating. And so on....
This mostly occurs on the fast lane where the drivers are eager to accelerate quickly and closely follow the vehicle in front.
With my driving habits, I act at a buffer in my lane. This not only saves me gas, but also to a few cars behind me. There's no difference between conservation and aggressive driving during rush hour for the time taken to reach the destination.
Happy driving! Save gas! Reduce stress!
