Sierra Mazda’s Guide to Green Driving: Part 8
Drive Off Peak
2009 Mazda6 Near Los Angeles
Nobody is getting good miles per gallon on a congested highway. When you are crawling along in a traffic jam, you are wasting time, gas and engine life. It’s just not what the engine was built to do. You and your car are much happier when you can go the speed limit. Going the speed limit, of course takes less time, but also uses less gas, leads to lower maintenance costs and is probably better for your mental health as well as your physical health (as anyone who’s ever been in a traffic jam can attest to, traffic jams can be stressful).
If you can schedule your life to drive when the roads are in free flow, you should do it. Your car, your wallet and the environment all will benefit. Now, we know what most of you are thinking, and that is your schedule is set, but that’s most likely not the case. The majority of us are indeed 9 to 5′ers, however there is some flexibility there. Here are some suggestions to mix up your schedule and avoid the bumper to bumper.
1. Leave early and bring breakfast to or eat breakfast at work.
2. Eat dinner before heading home from work. For those of us who are married, this might not work all the time, but we’re sure that your wife or husband would understand leaving work late every now and then, to both avoid traffic and become more efficient.
3. Ask your manager or boss for flexibility in your schedule. Coming to work an hour earlier or an our later could really make a difference in avoiding traffic and most likely, would lead to a more energetic and efficient day of work (which of course, would make your boss or manager happy).
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