365 Tips for Saving Gas

[wt2ga]

Chicago Tribune
By Jim Mateja

Where was Dr. Ron Weiers when the price of gas topped $3 a gallon and motorists needed his advice on how to save every pint, quart and gallon?

Now that liquid gold is only a little over $2 a gallon, Weiers has penned a book, "365 Ways to Save Gas" (DK Publishing, $9.99 paperback).

Weiers, a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, promises "how simple changes to your driving style can help cut down on visits to the pump."

Trouble with promising 365 tips, one for each day of the year, is after about tip No. 5 it becomes a bit of a stretch.

After advising folks to slow down, properly inflate tires and walk or bike rather than drive, the savings tips can be measured in droplets.

For example, the book advises to avoid wearing steel-toed boots the next time you drive to work, church or a restaurant because they "might be heavy as well as awkward and you could end up exerting more force than you realize on the accelerator pedal."

So you could travel 60 in a 30-m.p.h. zone and blame your steel-toed boots? ..Great advice.

Others:

Frequent gas stations, rest areas and restaurants on the right side of the road, because it means less distance to travel back on the road again.

Drive straight.

Stop and ask directions rather than wander around lost.

Use exact change at toll booths to avoid idling (though an I-Pass would be even better).

Dress in light clothes to avoid using the air conditioning in the summer or wear a coat to avoid using the heater in the winter.

If stuck in a long line in the left turn lane, keep in mind "a fuel-efficient solution is to simply go straight through the intersection, turn right at the next opportunity, then turn right two more times. Two wrongs don't make a right, but now we know that three rights can make a left."

On second thought, skip the book and use the $9.99 to buy gas.

[Graysky]

That was great!

[skyfan]

Very funny. I like the suggestion to walk more,,, duh!

[MidniteBlues]

Heres my tip, and IT IS NO.1--Don't start the car, truck, SUV or the Sky, that alone will save ya all your fuel costs--Do as the Chinese do, ride a bike to workk

[JohnD]

Was one of them:

"Don't drive to the store to buy my book."

Or:

"Don't order it on-line and require a UPS truck to deliver it to your door."

I think not.

[gmarcucio]

It sounds like Dr. Ron Weiers is not spending any of his own money on his gas he's using all of the money flowing in from idiots buying his book to purchase his gas.