May 4, 2012
Road Trip!
With summer just around the
corner, now is the time when
many people are making plans
for weekend getaways, road
trips, and summer
vacations. Summer is a
great time to get away, make
memories, and enjoy time
with friends and family.
Almost all of us will have
some of our travels by car,
as car trips can be both
convenient and reasonably
inexpensive. Whether you
plan to do a lot of driving
this summer or just some
simple short trips, a few
easy tips can help you get
the most out of your road
trips, and can also save you
money.
With the high cost of
gasoline, the price you pay
per gallon at the pump can
oftentimes make a big impact
on your wallet. It helps to
know where to find the most
affordable gas stations.
Websites such as the U.S.
Department of Energy’s
www.fueleconomy.gov give
you up-to-date information
on where you can find the
cheapest gasoline in your
own city and in any other
cities you may be visiting
or passing through.
When taking a longer trip,
or driving at night, the
state’s Department of
Transportation offers the
following tips to help you
stay safe. Get a good
night’s sleep before long
trips. Drive with a
companion who can stay awake
with you. Try to stay off
the road between midnight
and 7am, as this is the time
when the body’s biological
clock makes almost everybody
feel drowsy; if you are
driving at that time, stop
for a break every two hours
or 100 miles. Be aware of
the signs of fatigue: lane
drifting, repeated yawning,
inability to remember
driving the last few miles,
and trouble keeping your
eyes open. If any of these
occur, pull over as soon as
possible and have someone
else drive or find a safe
place to sleep.
Whether driving across the
country or across town,
everyone wants to get the
most out of their gas
mileage. There are some
simple ways you can improve
your gas mileage, saving
both money and wear and tear
on your vehicle.
You can improve your gas
mileage by up to 3.3% by
keeping your tires properly
aligned and inflated. This
is also a good way to
prolong the life of your
tires. Check your owner’s
manual or the door jamb for
the correct level of
inflation (not the tire
itself, which shows the
maximum tire inflation
pressure). It is a good
idea to check the tire
pressure when the tires are
cold, because internal
pressure increases when the
car has been on the road for
a while and the tires heat
up.
Driving safely and
efficiently also saves gas.
Rapid acceleration and
braking can lower your gas
mileage by 33% at highway
speeds and by 5% around
town. Smooth accelerations
and decelerations can
increase both your gas
mileage and the life of your
brakes. Further, gas
mileage usually decreases
rapidly at speeds above 60
mph. Each 5 mph driven over
60 mph is like paying an
additional $0.30 per gallon
for gas, according to the
U.S. Department of Energy.
Another way to save money is
with air conditioning. Air
conditioning dramatically
reduces fuel economy. Most
air conditioners have an
economy setting that allows
the circulation of unchilled
air. Many also have a
maximum or recirculation
setting that reduces the
amount of hot outside air
that must be chilled. Both
settings can reduce the air
conditioning load and save
gas.
Whenever possible, it is
always a good idea to drive
your most fuel-efficient
vehicle.
The difference between a car
that gets 30 miles per
gallon and one that gets 20
miles per gallon equals
about $968 in saved fuel
costs per year and about
$4,840 over five years
(assuming 15,000 miles of
annual driving and a
gasoline cost of $3.87).
In our own state, we are
fortunate to have many
getaway and vacation
options, all within a short
distance away. For those
looking for a place to
vacation in Wisconsin, the
Department of Tourism’s
website offers a plethora of
information at
www.travelwisconsin.com.
The site includes
information on attractions,
vacation ideas, camping,
state parks, and more.
Whatever your plans may be
in the upcoming months, may
you have an enjoyable and
safe summer!
-30-
Sen. Kedzie can be
reached in Madison at P.O.
Box 7882, Madison, WI
53707-7882 or by calling
toll-free 1 (800) 578-1457.
He may be reached in the
district at (262) 742-2025
or on-line at
www.senatorkedzie.com
