Tips For Driving Smarter

Tips For Driving Smarter from the world's most fuel-efficient couple, John and Helen Taylor. Learn how to stretch your car's gasoline and increase fuel efficiency and save money too.

(NAPSI)—Recently, the White House announced an increase in fuel economy standards that would require passenger vehicles and light trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. While this will go a long way to stretch fuel and our natural energy resources in the future, there are actions you can take today to help increase fuel efficiency.

John and Helen Taylor, known as the world’s most fuel-efficient couple and holding 88 world records, know about stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiency.

To demonstrate how you can reduce your fuel consumption and lower the price you pay at the pump, Shell and the Taylors are teaming up to introduce the Smarter Driving program by driving across 48 states, using the least amount of fuel in an unmodified, non-hybrid vehicle.

As official spokespeople for Shell, the Taylors agree that by following the Shell M.A.P. to Smarter Driving, you can become more fuel-efficient and save money with this simple plan:

• Maintenance: Perform smart maintenance before you drive:

- Make sure your tires are not over- or under-inflated: Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve your gasoline mileage by more than 3 percent.

- Keep your engine well tuned and repair problems immediately: Tuning up your vehicle or checking emissions could improve your gasoline mileage by 4 percent on average.

• Actions: Practice smart actions and behaviors while you’re behind the wheel:

- Avoid the highs and find the lows: Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gasoline mileage by up to 33 percent at highway speeds.

• Products: Purchase smart products at the right price without sacrificing quality:

- Choose a high-quality gasoline: Lower-quality gasolines can leave performance-robbing “gunk” on intake valves and fuel injectors. Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasolines help clean up gunk so your engine can perform at its best.

- Use a loyalty or rewards payment card to save at the pump: The Taylors suggest stretching your budget. Shell has teamed up with leading grocers in more than 110 markets across the U.S. where you can earn rewards for using your existing supermarket loyalty card and then redeeming the points at participating Shell stations. Another option is to use a Shell payment card that saves you money at more than 14,000 Shell stations across the U.S.

Smarter Driving can help consumers stretch their budget while helping to protect their vehicle. To test your Smarter Driving IQ and for a chance to win great prizes, visit www.Shell.us/smarterdriving or find Shell on Facebook.

Some tips sourced from www.fueleconomy.gov.

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Does Severe Service Driving Apply To You

Does "Severe Service Driving" Apply To You? When I first heard the term severe service conditions I had no idea what it meant. But this article from the experts at Fram told me what it meant and how it applies to some vehicles.

(NC)—More and more automakers are recommending longer oil-change intervals, some up to 16,000 km. Tighter engine tolerances and higher-quality motor oils help make this possible, and using an advanced-technology oil filter, such as Fram Xtended Guard, can help assure maximum protection for all those kilometers.

Take a look in your vehicle's owner's manual, however, and you'll find a caveat about “severe service” conditions. While the phrase sounds pretty intense, you may be surprised to find that it applies to you.

After a certain amount of time and travel, motor oil can lose its effectiveness and an oil filter may lose its ability to clean the oil. Exactly when that happens varies by driving conditions.

“Severe Service” Can Include:

• Trips of less than 16 kilometers

• Driving in very hot or very cold weather

• Idling for extended periods of time

• Stop-and-go traffic

• Pulling trailers or carrying heavy loads

• Driving in dusty conditions

All of these conditions place a much tougher strain on motor oil, which not only reduces friction, but also helps cool the engine and prevent engine wear. Severe service conditions basically overburden the additives in the motor oil and the capacity of the oil filter, so more frequent service is needed. Don't forget to check the engine air filter as well, since the same conditions can affect its useful life.

Talk to a trusted technician to find out if you should extend your vehicle's service intervals to the full amount, or if changing the oil, oil filter and air filter more frequently may be the best course for top engine protection.

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Preparing Your Car For Warm Weather Driving

* Watch For Inflation:

As temperatures change, so can tire pressure. Proper tire inflation is essential for automotive safety, optimum driving performance and significant cost savings, including better fuel mileage. Tires should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturer recommendations printed on the vehicle door placard or in the glove box and should be checked monthly. Over-inflation can lead to premature or irregular tire wear and under-inflation reduces a vehicle's fuel efficiency by an average of 3.3 percent.

* Breathe Free:

Replacing a dirty air filter can increase a vehicle's life expectancy and fuel efficiency by reducing the strain on the engine, especially during warmer months. Over the winter months, salt, sand and other impurities may have built up in the vehicle's air filtration system and replacing the air filter can improve acceleration time by 6 to 11 percent.

* Keep It Clean:

Cars, trucks or SUVs likely took a beating from this winter's harsh conditions and corrosive elements, including freezing rain, snow, ice, sand and salt. Keeping vehicles clean will help protect them from the chemicals and dirt that may attack the car's finish and undercarriage. Be sure to use quality cleaners.

* Check That Tread:

The economy has forced many to postpone tire purchases, but after enduring what was most likely a harsh winter and coping with wet spring weather, it is a bad time to have low treads. The lower the tread depth, the less traction on wet roads, and the greater the distance needed to stop. It is imperative that the tires on a vehicle are in good working order. Advances in tire technology are helping deliver a new generation of tires that offer all-season traction and increased comfort. For those in need of new tires, drivers should consider Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring tires, which are built for a smooth, comfortable ride.

For more helpful car care advice or information on tires for cars, light trucks, SUVs and more, visit your local Goodyear retailer or go online to www.goodyear.com.

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Eyes On The Road: Safe Driving Tips For Teens

Eyes on the road: Safe driving tips for teens from UPS, UPS NASCAR driver, David Ragan, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America offer some great information about teenage drivers and all the distractions they have to deal with. Look on Facebook for UPS Road Code.

(ARA) - While celebrities and parents alike have tried to educate teens about the dangers of driving while distracted, many have not heeded the lesson, as 86 percent of teens admit to being distracted while driving according to a 2010 study by AAA and Seventeen Magazine. Distractions include talking on the phone, texting, eating and changing channels on an MP3 player. This reality is especially alarming as traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Today's teen drivers face an increasing number of risks and distractions, making safe driving habits more important than ever. At the same time, teen driving laws are evolving, and fewer public schools across the country can afford to offer driver education classes.

Many community organizations and even large businesses have stepped in to proactively help teens learn the importance of practicing safe driving skills. For example, UPS, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and UPS NASCAR driver David Ragan are partnering for the third consecutive year to present UPS Road Code, a comprehensive safe driving course to help teach Boys & Girls Club teens across the nation the importance of safe driving and defensive driving skills.

"When I'm on the race track, I'm surrounded by about 40 other cars while driving more than 150 mph - I can't afford any distractions," says Ragan, UPS Road Code spokesperson. "Defensive driving is a priority for me on and off the track, and I think there needs to be greater education for American teenagers on what it means to be a safe driver."

A teen's first priority while driving should be to pay attention to the highway. Some helpful tips for keeping eyes on the road include:

* Give enough distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to allow you a view of all of your surroundings. A driver should be able to see the rear tires of the vehicle in front of you.

* Identify stale green lights, a light the driver did not see turn green, and prepare yourself for stopping if it turns red before you reach it.

* Be observant and expect other drivers to do unpredictable things while driving around you, such as speeding and changing lanes.

* Use your signals, lights and horn to communicate with other drivers on the road.

* Establish cushion space by delaying your start from an intersection by three seconds after the vehicle in front of you has moved.

* Check your mirrors every five to eight seconds because hazards that can cause an accident aren't always in front of you.

Learning the risks and consequences of driving, plus hands-on experience behind the wheel, is essential to improve driving among teens. Drivers' education, graduated licensing systems and teen-driving programs provide youth important information and the opportunity to practice safe driving. More teen safe-driving tips from UPS Road Code can be found online at www.ups.com/roadcode or by "liking" UPS Road Code on Facebook.

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Share 'Faces Of Distracted Driving,' Hang Up This Holiday Weekend

If you're planning to be out on the highways this Memorial Day weekend, you'd best focus on keeping safe and focused on driving. Patrols are expected to step up enforcement not only for drunk-driving and speeding offenders, but also for those talking and texting behind the wheel.

In 2009, distracted driving killed nearly 5,500 people and caused nearly 500,000 injuries—and holiday weekends are normally accompanied by spikes in traffic accidents.

"But statistics never tell the whole story," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in a video release. "Behind these numbers are children, parents, neighbors, and friends—their families torn apart by senseless, preventable crashes."

Through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Faces of Distraction series, which we first brought to you last year, the federal government is attempting to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

In a new release from the series, Jacy Good, said that her parents were very much aware of driver distraction. "My dad had a bumper sticker that said hang up and drive" long ago, recounted Good.

The Good family went to daughter Jacy's graduation from Muhlenberg College on May 18, 2008, and on the way back, an 18-year-old driver who was talking on a cellphone ran a red light, which caused a semi tractor-trailer to crash into the Goods' vehicle.

The parents died in the crash, but Jacy recovered from critical injuries. "We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time," she said.

Jacy is now a board member of FocusDriven, an organization founded by distracted-driving victims' families, and she makes appearances to raise awareness about distracted driving.

According to the organization, nine percent of all drivers are talking on cellphones, which makes them four times as likely to crash; and drivers who read or type text messages contribute to at least 100,000 crashes per year.

As we head into a holiday travel weekend, watch the video below (as well as the whole series, if you haven't seen it), spread the word about distraction and of this series, and emphasize this point: No message or call is worth the risk; when you get in turn your phone off, and better yet put it in the glovebox.

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Cutting The Cost Of Teen Driving

Cutting The Cost Of Teen Driving might not be as difficult as you think. Find out if your teenage driver is eligible for these policy discounts.

(NAPSI)—With high unemployment, plus concerns over rising gas prices and inflation, parents are seeking ways to cut the costs associated with getting teen drivers on the road.

A recent Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company survey shows that households with teen drivers shell out an average of nearly $3,100 each year to allow their teens to drive. While other factors are involved, the cost of having a teen driver is a major one.

On average, parents of teens pay or will pay nearly two-thirds or more of all costs associated with their child driving, ranging from auto insurance to gasoline. Further, 40 percent of parents will pay for all the costs associated with their child driving, while 33 percent will share these costs with their teen. Only one in six parents of teens say that their teen will pay for all the driving expenses.

To help offset the cost, here are a few tips to manage the cost of car insurance:

Good Student Discounts:

Many carriers offer discounts for young drivers who excel academically. These good student discounts reflect that responsibility in the classroom often leads to responsibility behind the wheel. Nationwide Insurance, for example, offers a 25 percent reduction in premium for drivers under age 21 who maintain a B average or better.

Education Pays Off:

Some insurers provide a discount to families that register their teen to participate in a driver certification program.

Family Plan:

Check to see if your insurer provides a family plan that provides discounts earned by the adults in a household to their teen driver(s). Discounts extended to teens as a part of the family plan include multicar, multipolicy and financial responsibility. These reductions can help save up to 25 percent on auto insurance premiums.

Multiline Discounts:

Bundling policies—such as home, auto and life insurance products—with one company is a great way to save money on the overall cost of insurance.

Deductible Options:

Having a higher deductible on an auto policy, combined with programs such as Vanishing Deductible and Accident Forgiveness, can keep out-of-pocket expenses stable. For example, those who can afford to pay $500 when a claim occurs may want to select this as their deductible amount in order to lower insurance premiums.

Other Discounts:

Having your payments made electronically can save you up to $48 annually.

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Top Fuel–efficient Driving Tips To Save On Gas

Top Fuel–efficient driving tips to save on gas with these fuel-efficient driving tips.

(NC)—Remember when it seemed unthinkable to have to pay $1/L of gas? Now, most of us would jump with happiness to see prices going back to these rates – or even lower.

Even if you have accepted the fact that you'll have to pay more to fill the tank, adopting some fuel–efficient habits could go a long way in leaving you with some extra dollars in your wallet, without cramping your lifestyle.

According to an Autos.ca survey on Fuel–Efficient Driving, high gas prices have motivated most Canadians to either adopt or consider adopting fuel–efficient driving. Among the ones willing to make an effort, 58% said they were willing to reduce unnecessary idling and 56% indicated being ready to drive more smoothly and evenly to reduce their gas consumption.

Proven fuel–efficient driving habits include:

• Moderating Speed

– Why rush? Respecting speed limits is not only safer, it will also reduce your gas consumption.

• Reducing Unnecessary Idling

– Turn–off the engine while waiting for more than 1–2 minutes. It's simple and will help you save on gas consumption with the added benefit of being more environment–friendly.

• Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure

– Check your tire pressure, especially before long trips.

• Avoiding Sudden Accelerations

– Smooth and even driving will not only help you save on gas, but will also reduce your stress level – and frustration from other drivers.

• Follow The Manufacturer's Suggested Vehicle Maintenance

– Change oil and air filters as directed by the manufacturer. Your vehicle will not only be more fuel–efficient, it will also reduce green–house gases.

• Reduce Vehicle Load

– Remove any unnecessary items in your vehicle, such as backpacks, strollers or sports equipment to avoid carrying unnecessary load – and de–clutter at the same time.

Doing It All At Once Shouldn't Be The Focus

– it's most important to start somewhere and add habits gradually as you grow more comfortable with them. More information on fuel–efficient driving habits or vehicles is available at www.autos.ca/auto–consumer–info.

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Commute Making You Fat? Study Links Driving Distance To Obesity

Eating or drinking while driving is as dangerous as using a cellphone

Enlarge Photo

Is driving—and America's automobile-centric lifestyle—largely to blame for our obesity problem?

It's not surprising that driving and obesity are linked. And now Sheldon Jacobson, a professor, researcher, and data analysis expert at the University of Illinois claims to have found an association, in the data, between obesity and automobile usage.

Between 1985 and 1987, looking at annual vehicle miles traveled and obesity rates, the analysis found a 99-percent correlation.

Driving could, in fact, be as much to blame for our obesity problem as common scapegoats like video games, or the higher cost of healthy food. Those might be factors, but driving distance is a societal factor that we need to think out as a nation.

High-calorie food plus driving help put on the pounds

Jacobson points to an "energy imbalance" as people consume high-calorie food, then as they climb into vehicles instead of expending those calories in activities, the behavior ultimately leads to obesity.

Eating food in your car is one of the worst scenarios, as you're already sitting in your vehicle, burning few calories, and taking in, probably, food with very high calorie density.

It's no coincidence that obesity has become a problem during the past 60 years or so, while America has revolved around the automobile. "Because we choose to drive rather than walk or cycle, the result is an inactive, sedentary lifestyle," Jacobson told PhysOrg. "Not coincidentally, obesity also became a public health issue during this period."

The same thing is happening now in China and India, where cars are increasingly accessible and common...and sure enough, bad American habits like fast food are popping up to meet the 'lifestyle.'

Driving less could do more than just reduce some of our reliance on oil, or make our air a little cleaner; it could make a significant difference in the obesity rate.

Can't forget the costs of obesity

And obesity has its own costs. It's one of the primary issues in healthcare reform; in 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated the healthcare costs alone (not including other economic costs) to be about $147 billion per year.

That doesn't even consider, either, a 2006 study that points to about a billion extra U.S. gallons of gasoline consumed annually due to average gains in body weight.

If each driver reduced travel by one mile, in just six years the obesity rate would be more than two percent lower (with about 5 million fewer obese Americans), Jacobson estimates; and to completely eliminate the obesity problem, he estimates that every American would need to reduce daily driving by about 12 miles a day (about a third of the daily average)—while still accomplishing what they currently do.

Time to rethink the commute and slim down?

Since this isn't easily possible, given the vast distances that some Americans travel from work to home, one of the central points is that we might need to rethink how we're settled, and the choices we make in how and why we commute.

Or does this calculation seem a little one-sided: Are issues like government food subsidies (cheap meat, expensive vegetables), domestic habits, or our culture of super-sized portions more to blame?

[PhysOrg.com via Fast Company] 

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