The way you drive has a bigger impact on fuel consumption than most people realize. Aggressive driving can decrease fuel economy by 15–33% on highways and 10–40% in stop-and-go traffic. Flip those numbers around and you have serious savings just by changing a few habits.
Whether you're driving your own car, sharing a vehicle on SWIFT, or just trying to keep costs down on a road trip — these 12 techniques work on any vehicle.
Driving Technique
1. Accelerate Gently
Jackrabbit starts are fuel killers. Ease onto the gas pedal and take 5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 20 mph. Pretend there's an egg between your foot and the pedal — you don't want to crack it.
2. Maintain Steady Speed
Constant small speed fluctuations waste fuel. On highways, use cruise control to maintain a consistent speed. Studies show cruise control saves 7–14% on fuel compared to manual speed management.
3. Anticipate Traffic Flow
Look ahead — not just at the car in front of you, but 10–15 cars ahead. When you see brake lights in the distance, lift off the gas early and coast rather than racing up and slamming the brakes. Every time you brake, you're converting fuel you already paid for into waste heat.
4. Slow Down
Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed. Driving 65 mph instead of 75 mph can reduce fuel consumption by 10–15%. You'll arrive maybe 10 minutes later on a 2-hour drive — and save several dollars in fuel.
5. Coast to Decelerate
When you see a red light or stop sign ahead, take your foot off the gas and let the car slow naturally. Most fuel-injected engines use zero fuel when coasting in gear with the engine above idle RPM.
Vehicle Preparation
6. Check Tire Pressure Monthly
Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and fuel consumption. Tires that are 10 PSI low can reduce fuel economy by 3–4%. Check and adjust pressure when the tires are cold (before driving or after sitting for 3+ hours).
7. Remove Excess Weight
Every 100 pounds of extra weight reduces fuel economy by about 1%. Clean out the trunk, remove unneeded cargo carriers, and take off roof racks when not in use. A roof rack alone can reduce highway fuel economy by 2–8% due to added drag.
8. Use the Recommended Oil
Using the manufacturer-recommended motor oil grade can improve fuel economy by 1–2%. Using 10W-30 when 5W-20 is specified creates more engine friction than necessary.
Smart Habits
9. Minimize Idling
Idling gets you exactly 0 miles per gallon. If you'll be stopped for more than 60 seconds (except in traffic), turn the engine off. Modern engines don't need to "warm up" by idling — driving gently is more effective.
10. Plan Your Route
Use GPS apps that show real-time traffic. Sitting in congestion wastes enormous amounts of fuel. A slightly longer route with free-flowing traffic often uses less fuel than a shorter route through gridlock.
11. Combine Trips
A warm engine runs more efficiently than a cold one. Combining multiple errands into one trip means less time running a cold engine and fewer total miles driven.
12. Use AC Wisely
At low speeds (under 40 mph), open the windows instead of running AC to reduce engine load. At highway speeds, close the windows and use AC — open windows at high speed create drag that's worse than the AC's energy consumption.
The Numbers Add Up
If you spend $200/month on fuel, improving your habits by just 20% saves $480 per year. For SWIFT renters, better fuel economy means keeping more of your travel budget for experiences instead of gas stations.
For SWIFT hosts, sharing a fuel-efficient vehicle is a selling point worth highlighting in your listing. Browse fuel-efficient vehicles on SWIFT.
