The way you drive and maintain your vehicle can reduce emissions, reduce air pollution, and save you money.

• Avoid aggressive driving. Rapid acceleration and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by 15-40%.
• Keep your speed steady, at or below the speed limit. Allow your car to slow naturally uphill and speed up again downhill. To improve gas mileage 10-15%, drive 55 mph, not 65 mph.
• Avoid idling your vehicle when you’re waiting for a ferry, train, or passenger. If you’re stopped for more than 30 seconds—except in traffic—turn off the engine.
• Properly inflate your tires. Under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by as much as 6%.
• Cool the car strategically. Use the air conditioner sparingly in older cars. Newer cars have more efficient air conditioning, so using the AC may save more fuel than opening windows.
• Use cruise control strategically. It saves fuel by maintaining a steady speed in most conditions, but turn it off in hilly areas, where a steady speed requires extra acceleration and braking.
• Service your vehicle regularly. A poorly tuned engine produces up to 50% more emissions than one that is running properly.

If you drive a hybrid, also do the following:

• Use your brakes rather than coasting to a stop. Apply steady, even pressure. Braking recharges the battery.
• Maintain a steady speed under 55 mph. Accelerate gently to keep your car in EV mode.
• Use the car’s idle-stop system. Putting your car in neutral prevents electrical recharging. Let your system automatically shut down the engine when the car has stopped.