Today I decided that I was going to give “slow driving” a shot at conserving gas.  I have a slight tendency to speed, and knowing that high speed robs your efficiency, I figured I’d give slow driving a try.   Plus, I won’t risk another ticket that way.

I wanted to try 55 mph, but the speed limits on the highways between home and work are 70, at 55 I think I’d be a hazard to the other traffic.  Even at 60 I feel I’m the bad guy, but I stay in my lane on the right and give ample opportunities to pass if I can.  Other drivers are just going to have to deal with it.

I drive about 55-60 miles round trip between home and work.  It’s practically all highway, less than a mile from home to the highway on-ramp and less than a mile from highway off-ramp to work, so it really is all highway.

I currently get about 20 mpg in the Charger.  However, when I thought of doing this to save gas, it was actually a couple days ago.  So I already started the 60 mph max speed, trying to wean myself down to it.  Today when I filled up, I had recorded 22.4 mpg on the last tank.  That’s an improvement, and if I got that with the aid of just a couple days of slowing down, then this might prove quite a money saver.

With gas as expensive as it is now, the smart money person can’t afford NOT to investigate ways to reduce their consumption.  I usually fill up about once a week, so in about a week (hopefully longer) I’ll update you on my results.

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