REGINA — Tomorrow is Canada’s155th birthday and as a gift to all of us; it lands on a Friday. The high cost of fuel (and everything else) might have you re-thinking those summer road trip plans. But if you co decide to hit the road, SGI has advice that can help keep you safe and (bonus) save you money.
Slow Down – It’s estimated that for every 10 km/hr over 90 km/hr you travel, . Slowing down and observing speed limits won’t just save gas, it can save you an . Speeding tickets start at $170 for 10 km/h over the limit. They can get much more expensive if you’re speeding through a , school zone or passing workers on the side of the road. Using can use fuel efficiently and help you to maintain a consistent speed but only use it during ideal road conditions.
Plan ahead – A travel plan can help you to travel from place to place , combine short trips and avoid doubling back. Knowing where you’re going helps you to drive more confidently and pay better attention to what’s happening on the road. This will also prevent you from being unnecessarily by your navigation system, mobile device or arguing with your co-pilot over the best route to take.
Keep your car maintained – A with properly will help your car run more efficiently and will avoid dangerous tire blow-outs or mechanical breakdowns.
Look ahead – Watching of where you’re driving allows you to avoid potential collisions and lets you moderate your speed so you don’t need to brake and accelerate as much. Less acceleration and smoother driving lead to more efficient fuel use.
Accelerate smoothly – helps you to conserve fuel by building speed efficiently. On slippery surfaces like , smooth acceleration will help keep you pointed straight and on the road.
Plan a safe ride home – Planning a safe ride (or just staying the night) if you’re in any way impaired will help save on your gas bill, avoid , and will save lives. Police all summer so the most cost-effective plan is to plan a safe ride. Penalties for experienced drivers start at .04 BAC and if you’re a new driver, there is . When it comes to being impaired in any way – save gas - save a life – save yourself a spot on the sofa until you’re sober again.
